Aro Kingdom re-brands after 700 years
From MATHAS NWOGU, Umuahia

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The 700-year-old Aro Kingdom with headquarters in Arochukwu, Abia State perhaps the only large sub-ethnic group in Igbo land that has maintained it homogeneity without necessarily being divided, into several autonomous communities.

From left Mazi Eze Agwu, Mazi Eze Nwa-Kanu and mazi Ogbonaya Okoro during the innauguration



http://odili.net/news/source/2009/aug/19/513.html

It was, therefore, with fanfare that recently selected cream of Aro intelligentsia, the political class, industrialists, as well as the business class recently converged on the ancient town to initiate a new vista of renaissance by inaugurating a reformed Okpankpo, the supreme council or cabinet of the Aro Kingdom.

Giving the background of the apex decision making body, the President General of Nzuko Aro, Mazi Emma Kanu explained that it is made up of the Eze Aro who is the chairman, the two traditional rulers of Ibom Isi and Ezennagwu.

This council which has no specific number of members is made up of representatives from the 19 villages that make up Arochukwu, as well as kindred heads, he also said.

“There are certain personalities that are permanent members. Eze Aro is one because he is the chairman of Okpankpo Aro. Eze Ibom, his right hand man is also a permanent member, as well as the Eze Ezeagwu.”

This body, he said, is also made up of political leaders of the kindred groups as each kindred in Aro kingdom has its political head- the Eze-Ogo.

“Within 19 villages we have the council of Ndieze Ogo. On the top of all those council is the Okpankpo,” he explained.

Throwing more light on the functions of Okpankpo, he said, in the olden days, the Okpankpo was constituted with wise men who understood the culture, tradition of the people and who regularly gathered to deliberate on issues concerning the town and take decisions.

“They are the supreme council because their decision on any matter in the Aro kingdom was final and was even binding on the Aro in the Diaspora. With growth in population and increased knowledge and exposure, complication in societal issues, it became necessary that such a body be reconstituted and reformed to meet the present needs.

“So today, we are inaugurating what we may call a re-branded Okpankpo. We have recognized that with the changes in modern times, the council as traditionally constituted cannot meet the needs and expectations and aspirations of the people, so today’s event is historical as Okpankpo is taking a very special new look.

The new change

The old wise men are still wise, but they are limited to their exposure and what happens within. But today’s old wise men are not limited as such, but are equipped by the knowledge they have acquired by training, by traveling, interaction, exposure and other things. The time has come for Okpankpo, the highest organ of administration in the kingdom to attract quality people with ideas that will help fashion development, progress and fast forward the status of Aros, Abia State and even Nigeria.

The interesting thing about the new Okpankpo is that it is now structured in line with modern political structure with what looks like ministries, each with a particular function. The is a deviation from the jack of all trades method where all issues were brought to the council and were looked into by all members, but under the new dispensation, special committees now exist to handle issues that relate to such committee which are headed by members that are professionals or versed in it. This is possible because there is no profession where you do not find the Aro, so we have to use such endowments to work for the development of the area.

Inaugurating the 37 member Okpankpo Aro in his palace at Arochukwu, Eze Aro, His Majesty Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro flanked by His Royal Highness, Mazi Kanu Nwa Kanu, Eze Ibom Isii, and His Royal Highness, Mazi Okoroafor Uro, Eze Eze Agwu, challenged them with this statement made by Bryson Lyman: “Great nations can only be built when the citizens are allowed to use their intelligence to decide what they want, when the state helps to the knowledge of the alternative choices open to them.”

He said he dissolved the former Okpankpo on Jan 1, 2009 for obvious reasons and that though some people kicked against it and some embraced it, it was done for the collective interest of the Aro people and to move the kingdom forward. That decision was also taken because it is my desire to give opportunity to some of our brightest Aro sons to contribute to our collective quest to reposition Arochukwu kingdom in the new emerging global trends.

“We all know that a new kind of competition is now part of our world. There are new ways of resolving conflicts, new ways of expanding economic frontiers and interest, new ways of evolving communal relationship, new ways of attracting development and projects to one’s community. All these I intend to entrust to this new Okpankpo and to challenge this assemblage of brilliant individuals to do more for Aro.”

Giving further insight into his expectation of the new look Okpankpo, his Royal Majesty said: “The focus of the new Okpankpo must be to positively change the old ways of doing things.

“It will no longer be business as usual. What is permanent in life is change, it is either we change with the tides of time or it will change us. He said the new Okpankpo would no longer be bogged down with ordinary arbitration, but complicated ones that could not be handled by the kindred and the council of Ezeogo; Okpankpo will now serve at the appellate level when such matters had defiled the arbitration at the lower levels.

“Its main trust should be to fashion out policy matters, security matters and developmental needs of Aro. Therefore, the current membership has been deliberately chosen to consist of those individuals who will take us on the wings of dynamism, expertise, hard work, innovation and achievements. They would unlike before meet quarterly to accommodate their busy schedules.”

A major distinction from the old is the institution of specialized sub-committees, which would allow members to continue their works even before and after the scheduled meetings even as it gives members opportunity to play key roles in areas where they have considerable advantage or skill.

According to him, the committees which look like ministries include, culture and tradition, political and intergovernmental relations, infrastructure, youths empowerment, finance, legal and security, inter-communal relations, humanities (health and education) and special duties.

A critical look at these such-committees shows that the Aros have decided to take their destiny into their own hands and like the Jews scattered everywhere in the globe want to use what they have to get what they do not have.

Arochukwu, one of the earliest settlements that got early contact with the white men and had full administration status then had remained stunted while its counterparts like Calabar, Lagos, Benin and Aba, among others have developed infrastructurally.

Lamenting on the situation, Mazi Ivi said it appears that the neglect suffered by the Arochukwus was deliberate arising from the misconception that the Aros were responsible for the slave trade that saw most of the people sold into slavery to the Americas and West Indies.

He said that the perception was completely wrong as the Aro never raided communities, villages or engaged in wars to capture people and sold them as slaves.

According to him, the Aros as traders only engaged in the then legitimate slave trade and abandoned it when it was abolished and embraced other traders like produce buying.

He said that because of the freedom the Aros had in moving from one community to another without molestation, they acted as middlemen in the slave trade between those who produced the slaves and those who bought them without producing them by themselves.

He insisted that they only added value to the trade and never captured anybody as slave to be sold.

Besides, he said that while there were slave markets in parts of Igbo land, none existed in Arochukwu, warning that history should not be distorted, but facts, which are verifiable, should be treated as sacred.

He said that the Aros have paid their dues in the development of Nigeria and should be entitled to the socio-economic infrastructure which other cities in the country have benefited.

Mazi Ivi reeled out prominent Aro indigenes who had contributed to the growth of Nigeria to include late Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Dr K. O. Mbadiwe, Dr Alvan Ikoku, S. G. Ikoku, all of blessed memory, as well as Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former governor of Abia State from Ebonyi State, Mazi Sam Ohabunwa, a renowned indusrialist, many professors scattered in several Nigerian universities, prominent Igbo academics and military personnel, who though are indigenes of states outside Abia are of Aro origin.

Recounting some of the deprivations suffered by Arochukwu, he said that though it was accorded urban status in 1976 along side Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe and Owerri in the then Imo State, all of them except Arochukwu have been enjoying the paraphernalia of that status.

Federal and state roads leading to Arochukwu, as well as the intra-city roads have been left unrehabilitated since they were built in the pre independence days, this is despite representations to the president and governor of Abia State.

“I led the team that met Obasanjo on the Arochukwu roads and needs, we had a very exhaustive discussion on it and he made very strong promises, which he tried to commence, but unfortunately nothing has happened.

“The Federal Government should complete the rehabilitation of the road that links us to Ohafia, which they had abandoned. They should give us our share of the democracy dividend because we have paid our dues in national development in various ways.

“Our hospital which is now a relic of itself should be rehabilitated and re-equipped to serve Cross River State people, Akwa Ibom and Bende division as it used to be in those days.”

The inauguration of Okpankpo was spiced with the traditional and cultural dances of Arochukwu, including the Ekpe and women dancers.

Aro mma mma nu. Ujari - Ajali kwenu!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_p408EJmlc&feature=PlayList&p=0B8A8633D939562B&index=153

What does 'Mazi' mean?

Like em Chief.
Mainly for older accomplished men in the community.

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to translate "maazi" as "sir/madam", and not necessarily "chief"?

I think Sir.

not Madam coz Mazi is only for men.

Oh okay, well, I guess that's where our cultures differ.
I mean, we do use "maazi" the same way others do (i.e. "maazi Ugwumba"), and in that use, it's restricted to older men, but we also use "maazi" as a way to greet women as well as men (whether accomplished or not accomplished). So in that instance, "maazi" takes on the meaning of "sir/madam".

Aloy are u eyeing an Aro chick?we dont cone cheap ooh

Maazi = Mr. = Monsieur

@Ify
O ego ka o ga-eri. Ife di mma rie mu ego ooo ma umunna taba mu uta!!!

Aloy are u eyeing an Aro chick?we dont cone cheap oo

Do Aro chics have pointed nose?

Aloy~Emeka:

Do Aro chics have pointed nose?

Nope they have flat backside. onye iwe na ewe dokaa panti ya.

presido1:

Nope they have flat backside.  onye iwe na ewe dokaa panti ya.

What is the attraction then? Flat backside and flat nose?

Aloy~Emeka:

What is the attraction then? Flat backside and flat nose?

The two Front side(Up and Down)

What is the use of front without the back?

U be gay? front wu ebe ano. Ask any Aro gyl here like

AfroCynic:

What does 'Mazi' mean?

Mazi means a full fledged man, with his own family--wife/s(oriaku), means of lifelihood, upright, respected for his skill by peers, and obeys the traditions, culture of his ancestors. It could satnd for Mr, or Sir

Traditionally, Igbos didn't have chief or rulers, but they were organized and ruled by a council of elders, made of Mazis Some Igbo societies progress from a Mazi to an Ichie as a further differentiation.

Aloy~Emeka:

Do Aro chics have pointed nose?

Amara kanu and Nkechi Okocha are some of the least beautiful girls from Aro.

presido1:

Nope they have flat backside. onye iwe na ewe dokaa panti ya.

may a million milipede lick ur unwashed anus for u.

naijaking1:

Mazi means a full fledged man, with his own family--wife/s(oriaku), means of lifelihood, upright, respected for his skill by peers, and obeys the traditions, culture of his ancestors. It could satnd for Mr, or Sir

Traditionally, Igbos didn't have chief or rulers, but they were organized and ruled by a council of elders, made of Mazis Some Igbo societies progress from a Mazi to an Ichie as a further differentiation.

GBAM.

Mazi means Mr.

Amara kanu and Nkechi Okocha are some of the least beautiful girls from Aro.

Show us evidence through pictures.

Ndewo nu !!!!!!

from arochukwu- amangwu,  married in obinkita, so that makes me full ADA MAZI!, signed, sealed, deliverd.

mazi is usually for a man whos father is dead, while nwa-mazi, is for the man whos father is still alive.

throttler:

Ndewo nu !!!!!!

from arochukwu- amangwu,  married in obinkita, so that makes me full ADA MAZI!, signed, sealed, deliverd.

I am rep. Amanagwu.

ifyalways:


I am rep. Amanagwu.

hey ify! nwannem nda aga imere? i always see your posts, but i had no inkling that you were my sis.
i had a secondary school stint at aggrey memorial, amannagwu, in 1995 jss1. that place is so far from amangwu or amuvi were my granny is from.
all i can say about that daily commute was that my bata cortina shoes always wore out before midterm, and mami had to replace quick.