This was writting by: Fredrick Okeke. On 06/12/2011 · UMUDIOKA TOWN :Profanity in The Land. Read carefully and also share after reading I thank any body that is involved in creating this medium for Umudioka people and Umudioka Youths to have a forum and it is my hope that perhaps most of us have seen the very importance of retracing our steps from the path of shame and perdition. What is bedeviling Umudioka today was never part of their characteristics. In the word of renowned educationist and administrator, late Chief D.C. Odenigbo ( Ide of Umudioka) of blessed memory, he asserted in the book, “Umudioka: An identity of vital angles of ancient Igbo wisdom” , authored by Mr. Joseph Chukwu Maduekwe that Umudioka were like the Romans of the old, these Nwadiokas settled wherever they conquered , maintaining and spreading their culture as they travelled. Their conquest was not by the sword but cultural since these Umudioka settlements all over the country have maintained the Umudioka culture and identity both in name and in deed which have had great influence on the host communities. The throne, the crown and the scepter are the sacred symbols of tradition, authority, sanctity, dignity and unity of a town such as ours. Therein lies the tread of our co- existence as one people with one custom, value, culture and conscience. Unfortunately, some self seeking and desperate elements are running from pillar to post, bickering to desecrate our sacred institution as a people. But let me take you down memory lane before we come back to the nitty-gritty of the matters arising. Between 1970 and 1976, the Chieftaincy institution in Igbo land underwent significant changes. When the late head of State, General Murtala Mohammed took over the administration of the country, his government immediately put in to motion a nation wide policy aimed at restoring the respect and prestige due to traditional authorities. Among the objectives of the new policy was full use of traditional rulers both in rural development and in the revival and revitalization of the country’s cultural heritage. To enable the former East Central State Government implement this policy, a high powered commission on Chieftaincy matters was set up. The recommendation s of this panel formed the foundation on which the present institution of Chieftaincy in Anambra State was rooted . Following the publication of the Government’s white paper on the commission’s report, most communities including Umudioka became seriously engaged in the process of selecting and presenting their Chiefs to the Government for recognition. For some communities like Umudioka, the exercise was a mere formality. For some others, however, the selection process erupted into a bitter struggle which tended to disrupt the peace and amity that existed among the people. Three factors were responsible for the smooth process in Umudioka. First is the absolute peace and harmony that reigned throughout the land, the second is the emissary sent by Ndichie/ Nzeoba of Umudioka to Chief Solomon Nwafor Chukwunulu in Enugu which was led by Chief Adizue Okeke (Onye is Nzeoba Olioba). Their mission to Enugu to see Chief S.N. Chukwunulu was to deliver the message of the people of Umudioka, whose wishes it was that Chief Chukwunulu be presented to the Government as their traditional ruler. Chief Chukwunulu thanked the delegation but refused the offer. After much pleading, the delegation departed back to Umudioka after dropping a strong statement to Chief Chukwunulu that they are leaving the crown with him, if he sees any body who is better than him to have the crown, let him Chukwunulu give the crown to person. The third factor is that before the communities were required to present their respective traditional rulers, Chief S.N.Chukwunulu, a well known industrialist with chains of businesses as its Chief executive officer had already distinguished himself in the rural development of Umudioka town immediately after the civil war. He was the highest donor financially and otherwise to the building of Umudioka Post office, Umudioka meeting hall, reconstruction of war battered Afor-Igwe Primary School, reconstruction of war battered St. Anthony’s Primary School, Dunukofia and the building of Girls Secondary school Umudioka. These are visible developments that are in Umudioka till date. After seeking advices from his family, relatives and friends, Chief S.N. Chukwunulu accepted the wishes of Umudioka people with an election that took place at Umudioka meeting hall ,which saw him as winner with a very wide margin against unpopular contestants. Subsequently, a declaration and mandate was made by the entire people in respect of Chieftaincy hierarchy in Umudioka on the 17th January 1976( see mandate and declaration by the entire Umudioka people). On the 14th December, 1976,Chief S.N. Chukwunulu was recognized by the Government as a Traditional Ruler of Umudioka; he was coronated on the 17th December 1976 as the Igwe, Ezedioka 1 of Umudioka. Ofala festival followed on the 18th of December 1976, which was a manifestation of love, harmony, dignity and respect for our traditional institution and authority (see Chieftaincy edict 1976). Upon ascending the throne, Igwe Chukwunulu soon realized that our development will not be complete without reviving the ancient Umudioka cultural heritage, he then set out to all Umudioka communities within Igbo land and beckoned on them to close ranks with their brothers and sisters at home. He achieved this with great zeal and support of his cabinet Chiefs. Some Nwadiokas from Ngwa later came back home and settled happily while others from Neni, Awka, Awkuzu, Orlu, Okija and Nsukka paid homages to the throne on every Ofala and new yam festivals held in Umudioka. In affirmation of love and solidarity that followed Igwe Chukwunulu’s quest for the revival of Umudioka cultural heritage, Mr. Ngaobidi Nwaora of Obione quarters in Umudioka Neni stated in the book “Umudioka: An identity of vital angles of ancient Igbo wisdom“ as follows, “ I have told this story to the assembly of Umudioka communities from all over Nigeria when we gathered at the palace of the ancestral head of Umudioka federated, H.R.H. Igwe S.N.Chukwunulu, the Ezedioka of Umudioka –Dunukofia. during our annual gathering there and our story had been proved to be correct. So we have been fully admitted into the fold as a people on whose neck hung no abormination” (see page 137 of the book). Igwe Chukwunulu did not relent on this feat, he still went beyond the Igbo land to locate and identify with Umudioka settlements in Mgbirichi, Ikwere and Etim-ichi in Akwa-ibom State. During the burial of Sam Okwaraji, an indigene of Umudioka Orlu who died in active service while playing football for Nigeria, Igwe Chukwunulu co-ordinated a remarkable visit that brought thousands of Umudioka people to Orlu for the burial of one of their own, ably supported by Chief A.N. Onyejegbu (Ide of Umudioka ) and Chief fidelis Ejiofor (Ichie Ezeyim) etc. There was peace through out the land while the traditional authority of Umudioka reigned supreme apart from land disputes and family quarrels which is a common occurrence in all communities. At this point, let us come back to the remote cause of our peregrination to disaster. Between 1993 and 2003, Umuudioka had three people respectively as town union President Generals, namely, Chief Augustine Nweke, late Chief Greg Ikelie and Chief Patrick Ebolue. The administration of these men threw up several interwoven issues which resulted into fierce tussle. These issues bothered on general administration of Umudioka improvement union (UIU), building and allocation of Afor- Igwe Umudioka market stores and misappropriation and embezzlement of funds in Umudioka community bank. One group supported Chief Nweke and the other group supported Ebolue. About three peace committees were set up to look into the problematic issues through the sub-comittees of these committees, reports were made, which was not accepted by one of the groups. This developed into court suits, accusations and counter accusations , in the process, friendships were severed, egos were wounded and hatred between brothers and sisters became so rife. But it is on record that in al these issues, as provocative as they were, Igwe Chukwunulu tried much as possible to ensure that it never escalated into destruction of lives and properties because as we hav witnessed in some communities and it is utterly impossible for a father to kill a child he gave birth to and nurtured to maturity. Eight years without Igwe Chukwunulu, Umudioka has not been able to put their acts together. True reconciliations, atonements, apologies, respect, forgiveness, good conscience and above all love are what Umudioka needs now so that we can begin to prepare for the last Ofala festival of Igwe Chukwunulu. Rather than facing this reality, three types of men are bent on dragging Umudioka to destruction with their self seeking ambitions. The first type is a successful business man who is inciting uninformed people with his deep pocket to canvass his name as most suitable while he stays behind the scene; the second type is an educated person from a humble and priestly tutelage and background, who have abandoned his priestly traits to aspire for a position he knows next to nothing about and the third type is taking advantage of the anomalies in Umudioka to apportion titles to himself. A retired civil servant who is temporarily privileged to be part of the protectors of the sanctity of the throne but is now nursing the ambition of desecrating the throne just like a dog will want to eat the bone hung on its neck. He is also flaunting his name with MASSOB inscriptions as if MASSOB have lost track of their cause. Black cloud is hovering gradually in the sky without us knowing how it will rain, but one thing is certain ,specific authority is bestowed on human beings by the gods and sanctioned by man who has the scepter (ofo) to do so. This is why the maxim “kingship position is not haggled over “,(Adi-azo-eze-azo). Instead of our throne of co-existence to be desecrated by anybody, let it remain where it is.The most honourable thing for Umudioka to do, is to look towards the only Royal family in Umudioka, the Chukwunulus and select for ourselves, a blue blood who must be willing and committed to work assiduously for Umudioka just as Igwe Chukwunulu did. This is the only solution that will restore our dignity and respect in Igbo land and Nigeria in general. Let me say it audaciously, neither history nor wealth; nor the passage of time; and not proclaiming titles on oneself shall ever annul or grant immunity to any man, including his supporters who drags Umudioka to crisis out of desperation, even in their death and graves, justice as recompense like Garcia lorca’s sentinel and dog shall seek and smoke them out. Umudioka your faith in your hand
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 08:14:29 +0000
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