PRESS STATEMENT: 6th February, 2024.
The attention of Arochukwu Royal Palace has been drawn to certain mischievous allegations by a faceless group, making fallacious claims bordering on the recent crowning of the new Eze Aro, HRM Eberechukwu Oji.
Some of these claims are that our new monarch is a usurper, bought to disrupt the peace and prosperity of our people by exposing the kingdom to external interference.
We would have ignored the video for its utter irrelevance, but on second thought consider that a response would further introduce Arochukwu Kingdom as well as Eze Aro IX, HRM Eberechukwu Oji, to those who do not know him and our dear kingdom well enough.
On that note, therefore, we make the following clarifications:
1. For the avoidance of doubt, His Royal Majesty, Engr. Eberechukwu Oji, the Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, is the grandson of Eze Kanu Orji, the Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom who reigned the kingdom from 1914 to 1987, making him the oldest monarch to ever rule over any kingdom in Africa in these times. He is of royal blood, and is a bona fide son of the royal family of Okennachi Kindred responsible for producing the monarch of Arochukwu Kingdom.
No other family other than the one where our king comes from can produce the Eze, and as such, it is absolutely absurd for anyone to assume that a non-royal or an unqualified individual mounts the throne of Arochukwu Kingdom.
2. The new Eze Aro went through a rigorous selection process from which he emerged after a series of proper screenings that disqualified other royal contestants. He emerged for the final stage, alongside his cousin, Mazi Godwin Kanu Idei. During the final selection process, seven persons voted, and while two voted for Idei, five chose Oji, making him winner in the process. So, naturally, Eze Eberechukwu Oji emerged from a requisite process according to the traditions and ancient customs of Ndi Aro, not according to any external factor.
The Abia State Government issued Eze Eberechukwu Oji his Staff of Office, based on the outcome of that transparent process, after it investigated and discovered that Mazi Idei was wrongfully crowned.
3. Again, speaking of external influence to penetrate the ancient kingdom is quite a childish insinuation as the very principle upon which Aro became a city-state was actually to stop external forces from overwhelming the kingdom. The Great War that saw Aro emerge from a smaller nation to a nation of nations was fought just because a foreigner desecrated the land and tried to stand his ground that he could do whatever he liked in the Holy Land (for that is what Aro is).
No Aro man, royal or non-royal can compromise this as Aros guard the homeland with their lives. Aside that, a son of the royal family who emerged Eze Aro knows more than enough, the entire history of the land where his ancestors have ruled for centuries. Eze Eberechukwu Oji was born in this palace, and grew up under the tutelage of his great grandfather, Eze Kanu Oji. He learnt all that there is to know about the kingdom, and he is well acquainted with all the secrets of the kingdom. He was not born in London or New York.
He is a home boy, and he understands Aro and what it needs.
4. Arochukwu is also guided by the principles of AKO BU IJE. Ako bu Ije is so important to the Aro man and woman that every Aro father and mother imparts this principle to their children as they grow up. That is why the Aro person always succeeds. That is why it is very difficult or impossible to cheat him or her because we place our wits and wisdom before us in all that we do.
5. The Palace is also aware of some misrepresentations about the spirituality of our new Eze Aro. A lot has been said about Eze Aro being a pastor. Some ridiculously argue that a pastor (man of God) should not be an Eze Aro. On the contrary, Arochukwu cannot be ruled by a man who is not a man of God! Arochukwu is a priestly nation, and in the ancient times, Aros were rigorously trained in the traditional worship of Chukwu. The ‘Chukwu’ appended to our name is not a coincidence, as we are worshippers and high priests of Chukwu.
Eze Pastor Eberechukwu Oji was trained in the traditional priesthood in the palace by his grandfather. His own father, a Christian priest, also trained him to be a modern Christian priest, today serving as a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Has Christianity now become evil because our Eze Aro is a pastor?
Thus, Eze Eberechukwu Oji, in becoming the Eze Aro of Arochukwu, is qualified both as a high priest of the traditional priesthood of Aro Okeigbo, as well as that of the Christian God worship, the worship of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Arochukwu, therefore, is bountifully blessed both spiritually and temporally, and is now poised to rise onto its glory, led by a true man of God, who serves and worships our God in Spirit and in Truth.
6. Finally, we implore people to know that our Eze Aro, HRM Eberechukwu Oji, is a consummate achiever in all ramifications aside being of royal lineage.
Naturally, Eze Eberechukwu Oji received the deepest royal blessings of the kingdom that have enabled him succeed in everything he does. Needless to say, he has been ordained from birth to reign over Aros.
So, the general public is hereby advised to totally disregard the baseless allegations claiming external influences on the emergence of the new Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom. We also urge people to beware of such similar false narratives from mischief makers in the future. The Eze Aro is focused on redeeming the time and moving Arochukwu Kingdom forward to a new era of unity, peace, progress and prosperity. And by the grace of God, he will succeed.
Signed,
Prince Kanu Okoro Kanu Oji
Palace Royal Secretary.
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