Following a petition made to the Abia State Government last year by the Okennachi Kindred of Arochukwu Kingdom on the crisis stalling the coronation of a new Eze Aro, the Abia State Board of Inquiry constituted by His Excellency, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has submitted its findings.
The Board affirmed Prince Eberechukwu Oji as the authentic Eze Aro Designate to be crowned immediately.
It would be recalled that controversies late last year trailed the planned coronation ceremonies for Prince Eberechuwku Oji as the new Eze Aro. The coronation scheduled for December 26, 2023 was called off on the heels of a crisis precipitated by Prince Godwin Idei being wrongly and illegally crowned the new Eze Aro by HRH Eze Dr. Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke of Ibom Isii, Arochukwu Kingdom, in what he called ‘Okpu Arunsi’ which is unknown to Arochukwu Kingdom.
The Okennachi Kindred, the Aro kingmakers vested with the authority of producing a new Eze Aro, had earlier selected Prince Eberechukwu Oji out of all contesting princes to be the Eze Aro Designate, following due age-long Aro traditional selection process.
Having concluded its findings and found HRH Eze Dr. Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke of Ibom Isii guilty of wrongdoing, the Abia State Board of Inquiry made the following recommendations, among others:
HRH Eze Dr. Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke should be deposed, and have his staff of office and certificate withdrawn immediately. Process to replace him with a new Eze Ibom Isii should be started with immediate effect.
The purported crowning of Prince Godwin Idei as the Eze Aro is hereby declared null and void.
Prince Eberechukwu Oji should be crowned immediately as the Eze Aro.
Receiving the report of the Board, His Excellency, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved the recommendations and instructed that they all be implemented immediately.
This brings to closure the controversies surrounding the coronation of a new Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom and the kingdom’s concerned authorities can without delay proceed with the coronation ceremonies for Prince Eberechukwu Oji accordingly.
Signed:
Prince Uzor Nwachukwu
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs
Abia State Government.