We, the undersigned Principal Officers of Ndi-Enworo Royal Village Development Association on behalf of the good people of NDI-ENWORO ROYAL DYNASTY of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State gladly appreciate His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Bldr, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for graciously presenting Staff of Office and Certificate of Recognition to our Traditional Ruler, HRH, Ezeogo Igwe John Igwe, Igboeze III of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community.
Your Excellency, we must admit that you have in your magnanimity demonstrated the fact that you are indeed a caring father who not only knows the heartbeat of his people but is ever ready to fulfill their heart desire, having effortlessly filled the Igboeze stool that was left vacant for 14 years. We are eternally indebted to Your Excellency for this extraordinary show of love for the good people of Ekoli Edda.
Our heartfelt gratitude also go to the former Honourable Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Uchenna Igwe and most importantly the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha for his patriotism and unwavering commitment in making sure that our community is adorned with a vibrant traditional institution that is committed to peace and stability. We also thank in a profound way the Executive Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, Prince Chima Ekumankama for standing in the gap in our quest to enjoy a serene atmosphere of peace and tranquility under the leadership of a Traditional Ruler. At the same time, we thank immensely everyone who contributed in one way or the other in making our dream come true.
We also want to use this unique opportunity to warmly felicitate with one of our own, HRH EZEOGO IGWE JOHN IGWE on his formal recognition as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Autonomous Community by the State Government.
In fact, the story of the journey of his ascension to the throne of Igboeze III of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community started after the death of HRH, Ezeogo Jonathan Okorie Akanu (Igboeze II) on 28th February, 2010 at a time he (John Igwe) was the Palace Secretary to the Igboeze-in-Council. This position no doubt afforded him the opportunity to garner sufficient knowledge of the workings of the traditional institution and the administration of the community.
However, the remains of the late Zion King, Ezeogo J.O. Akanu was laid to rest on 6th November, 2010. Thereafter, the lgboeze Traditional Rulers Council after due consultations with critical stakeholders and opinion leaders adopted Ezeogo John Olughu Igwe as the successor of the late traditional ruler in line with the customs and tradition of the people. Consequently, he was presented as the Eze-Elect as required by the law of the land, to the people of the community at Ekenta Village Square, Ekoli Edda on 27th November, 2010, and he was subsequently presented to the then Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, Chief Nkama Nkama Ude on 26th June, 2012 for formal recognition and presentation of Staff of Office by the State Government.
However, the presentation of Ezeogo John Olughu Igwe to Chief Nkama Nkama Ude by the Igboeze Traditional Rulers Council as the Eze-Elect of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community surprisingly sparked off mixed reactions and controversy from the people of Nkagbogo Village in Ekoli Edda who claimed that the royal crown was their exclusive birth right. Their stiff opposition to his emergence led to negative chain of events.
Firstly, they wrote a petition to the Ministry of Education, alleging that Ezeogo John Igwe was not only a serving School Principal cum State Chairman of ANCOPSS, Ebonyi State Chapter but also the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli community which according to the petitioners exposed him to the temptation of taking double salary. On account of the said petition, the Ministry of Education relieved him of his engagement as school principal while the police later arrested him. Interestingly, he was reinstated after thorough investigation when it became obvious that he was not receiving double salary as alleged since he was not given staff of office.
By extension, the people of Nkagbogo Village on 9th April, 2013 sued Ezeogo John Olughu Igwe at the State High Court sitting at Afikpo in Suit No. HAF/8/2013 claiming to be the lawful owners of the Ezeship stool in Ekoli Edda. Delivering judgment on the matter, the presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Chris E. Eze on 28th February, 2017 recognized Ezeogo John Olughu Igwe as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community based on the preponderance of evidence before the court, having been duly elected in accordance with the tradition and customs of the people.
This judgment did not go down well with the Members of Eziukwu Nkagbogo who decided to appeal the judgment at the Federal Court of Appeal, Enugu. While on appeal, the plaintiffs rushed back to Afikpo High Court and filed a motion asking for stay of execution of the judgement but the trial Judge in his ruling on 11th May, 2017 maintained that his verdict on the recognition of Ezeogo John Olughu Igwe as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community was sacrosanct, noting that the ruling was without prejudice to whatever would be the outcome of the judgment of Federal Court of Appeal on the matter in future.
In fact, it is a puzzle that despite the high court judgment, the people whose responsibility it was to accord Ezeogo John Igwe the desired recognition to enable him function as Igboeze III of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community reneged. Rather the leadership of the community purportedly elected and imposed the town union's treasurer, Elder Oji Ufiem Okoro as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community on 14th August, 2021 after 4 years the court gave judgment in favour of Ezeogo John Igwe.
The unwholesome development compelled the Ezeogo to once again challenge in court in Suit No. HED/60/2022 the illegality of the imposition of Elder Oji Ufiem Okoro as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community in view of the subsisting Afikpo High Court judgment of 2017 which was decided in his favour taking into cognizance that the said judgment was not vacated. Consequently, Honourable Justice Emmanuel Ogbunnefi in delivering his judgment in Suit No. HED/60/2022 on 20th June, 2023 upheld the Afikpo High Court judgment of 2017 that recognized Ezeogo Igwe John Igwe as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community. This was the basis upon which His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State in his magnanimity on 1st October, 2024 presented Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to Ezeogo John Igwe as Igboeze III of the community.
At this juncture, the good people of Ekoli Edda Autonomous Community praise and thank most profoundly God Almighty for using mightily Gov. Nwifuru to restore peace and sanity in Ekoli community after 14 years of turbulence and turmoil in Ekoli Edda following the death of the immediate past Traditional Ruler, Ezeogo J.O. Akanu. The Governor has by his kind gesture given the Community Town Union a brand new leadership that is not only responsible and responsive but also a king who knows the problems of his people. And we have the implicit confidence in the ability of Ezeogo Igwe John Igwe to lead our people to the promised land.
Long live the king
Long live Ekoli Autonomous Community
Long live Edda LGA
Long live Ebonyi State
Signed:
Prince Bernard Okoro
Chairman
Ndi-Enworo Royal Village Development Association
Ekoli Edda
Prince Collins Okoro
Secretary
Ndi-Enworo Royal Village Development Association
Ekoli Edda
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