EZE ARO: Debunking The Lies Of Chikwe Udensi, By Mazi Clarkson Arodiogbu

His Eminence, Dr Eberechukwu Oji is the current monarch (Eze Aro) of Arochukwu Kingdom, in Abia State. Although he was chosen in October 2023, his path to leadership of the ancient kingdom has been fraught with stumbling blocks erected by those who are opposed to his emergence for reasons best known to them.

In late July, his ascension to the throne was cemented with a lavish, elaborate and boisterous coronation celebration, which inadvertently irked those who have worked tirelessly to throw him off the bus. Of course, they were not happy, and have since then, resorted to all manner of attacks against the king.

Surprisingly, a once highly respected son of Arochukwu, Mazi Chikwe Udensi joined the fray and granted an online TV interview. In that interview, Udensi told so many lies about the selection process, making one wonder if this is the same man who is respected as a foremost security expert.

Here, some of his lies are laid bare, with the truths placed side by side:

According to Chikwe in that interview with Eastern Circle, he told the interviewer, Michael Odoemena that there is a kingmaker in Aro culture who must crown the Eze. If he does not crown the Eze, then there is no Eze. He also said that, according to Aro culture, the three kindreds of Arochukwu must be involved in the process, while Okennachi produces the Eze, the Eze Ibom Isii must crown him, and if he does not crown him, he is not the Eze. Then, that the Eze Ezeagwu must endorse him.

Questions – where in Aro culture is this process done? Is there any history that an Eze Aro is crowned by the Eze Ibom Isii? Was Eze Kanu Oji crowned by Eze Ibom Isii when he became Eze in 1912?

The process of the selection of Eze Aro is the sole responsibility of the Oke Royal family and the Okennachi kindred, the other two kindreds are bound to accept anyone presented by them.


He agreed with the interviewer who only wanted to know the right term to use, that in Aro, there is a kingmaker called Onowu. No, no, no.

There is no such thing as a kingmaker in Arochukwu. Every kindred selects its own king, and the Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom is actually the king chosen by the Okennachi Kindred for themselves. In other words, the Eze Aro is not just the monarch of the whole Aro, but also that of his family or kindred, just as the other kindreds also chose their own monarchs. Be aware that every kindred in Arochukwu has an Eze.

What happens after the Okennachi Kindred chooses their king (who doubles as the Eze Aro) is that the Eze Okennachi is ceremoniously presented to the other kindreds. They DO NOT reject that Eze. They CANNOT reject him. They have no business in choosing a king for another kindred just as Okennachi kindred has no business choosing an Eze for any other kindred.


What he failed to tell the public is that politics was already playing out in the process which took place on 18th October, 2023.


He claimed that three people were involved in the selection process and two selected Godwin Idei. We are hearing this for the first time. It is on record and in the public domain that the selection process involved Eberechukwu Oji and Godwin Idei as finalists, and that 7 persons, not 3 as Chikwe Udensi had lied, were involved in the selection process after the screening sessions. It is also public knowledge which has never been disputed by anyone ever before that out of the 7 persons, only two selected Idei and the rest 5 selected Oji. This was the reason Godwin Idei stormed out of the arena only for us to hear later that he had been crookedly crowned by the former Eze Ibom Isii, a process that is totally abhorrent to Arochukwu custom and tradition.


Chikwe Udensi again, lied that the 7 persons who were involved in the selection of Eze Eberechukwu Oji were not members of the Okennachi Kindred. He even went on to say that they are friends to the Governor of the state and from government house!

If that is so, why then did Godwin Idei participate in the screening and selection processes? Why would he endorse a process that is contrary to his own tradition by being part of it?

Truth is that it is quite shocking that a once-respected Chikwe Udensi could stoop so low and spew lies about the Eze Aro Coronation process. And to think that even he is neither a member of the royal family nor Okennachi kindred, indeed has nothing to do with both makes one wonder why he is lying like a deviant child. Or is he bent on discrediting the process of the selection, just because he wants to paint the governor in black, due to his 2027 governorship aspirations?

To set the record straight, the seven men who participated in the selection process are of the Okennachi Kindred. For the avoidance of doubt, their names are given below.:



Mazi PC Okoro,
Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor,
Mazi Dr. Azubuike Okoro,
Mazi Nkem Okoro
Mazi F. O. Ajunwa (Eze Ogo Utughugwu)
Mazi Thomas N Okoroji (Eze Ogo, Amuvi, Bianko rep)
Mazi Okezie Nwankwo, Arianzu Isimkpu (Rep of Amaja)

Even before the process kicked off, after Idei and Oji emerged finalists, the former Eze Ibom Isii and the Eze Ezeagwu had started to seriously meddle in the Eze Aro selection process, despite not being from the Okennachi Kindred.

In the early morning of 18th October, 2023 before the commencement of the day’s proceedings, Okennachi Kindred received letters from Eze Ibom Isii, Mazi Kanu nwa Kanu and Eze Ezeagwu N’Okwaragwu dictating to Okennachi who should become Eze Aro and who should not – a responsibility totally outside their competence. Their main point was the bogus theory that ONYE NNA YA DI NDU ANAGHI ACHI EZE (one whose father is alive cannot be Eze).

The duo ORDERED Okennachi Kindred to select Prince Goddy Idei and went ahead to threaten that any candidate short of him would not be recognised by them. You can see how and where the problem started.


The action of the duo of Eze Ibom Isii and Eze Ezeagwu N’Okwaragwu was entirely meddlesome and a breach of the independence of the federating kindreds in Arochukwu. Besides, the action was also in violation of the 2 January, 2015 vow entered and signed by Aro traditional rulers and Nzuko Aro Patrons and validated by consent judgement of 26 October, 2015 by Justice S.A. Nwakanma of Abia State High Court, Umuahia that “That Kindred Eze should no longer interfere with internal village administration and selection of Eze Ogo…” paragraph 9.


So, the Selection Team ignored them and went ahead with the process and eventually, Eberechukwu Oji emerged.


Again, Chikwe Udensi categorically said that the Governor, and some of his SAs from Arochukwu are the ones urging Eze Eberechukwu Oji on and causing confusion in Aro. It’s unfortunate that Udensi would allow politics to affect his sense of judgment, especially knowing that he has been a rival to Governor Alex Otti since 2015 when both of them entered the governorship race together. He also keeps referring to those in government as arrogant, thinking they are the ones who are the Eze. Apparently, Udensi sees the Eze Aro stool imbroglio as a front for him to fight for popularity in the coming elections. It will be in his best interest if he leaves the governor out of the whole matter.

He should not think that such sentiments can earn him the guber seat in 2027.



Clarkson Arodiogbu, a public analyst writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.