The first edition of Ububo Eze Aro n’Umu Aro took place in February 2024, with several sons and daughters of Arochukwu kingdom joining in from across the world.
The meeting, held on Zoom platform, is perhaps one of the very first times an African monarch is holding such a global interactive session with members of his community using modern technological solutions.
With that very meeting, Umu Aro were able to see their new Eze face to face, speak to him, and inform him of ways and means through which the community could be effectively developed.
While the interactive session was moderated by a renowned media personality, Mazi Fred Nwankwo (Alen TV- Chicago USA), the vice Secretary General of Nzuko Aro Worldwide, Mazi Zulu Ofoelue (Educationist- Enugu) handled the hosting of the meeting.
Panelists included Patrick Asonye (Editor-Lagos), Adaukwu Alaezi Dike (Author- USA), Onyemaobi Anyiwo (USA), Eugene Okey Imuoh (Radio Host – Umuahia) and Orji Ijoma (President -Nzuko Aro, Ireland)
It was held on Sunday, 25 February 2024, and ran from 8pm – 10pm.
The 2 hour chat was segmented into diverse parts:
Introductory remarks by moderator, panel interview, break interval, general chat, and closing remarks.
The meeting focused on Eze Aro’s vision for Arochukwu Kingdom.
Key topics handled include:
Youth Empowerment and Education, Security of Arochukwu Kingdom, Arochukwu development and infrastructure, Cultural Revival and Tourism, and
Strengthening bonds with Aro communities outside Arochukwu.
The Situation Room was managed by Dr Azubike Okoro, Ernie Onwumere, and Onyema Harbor.
As the second meeting has been held yesterday, it is important that we have an insight on what happened in the last edition, and why the second edition, and, as a matter of fact, more editions will play a serious role in putting Arochukwu at the forefront in the comity of communities.
The first Ububo Eze Aro n Umu Aro began with the introductory speech of the Eze wherein he introduced himself and his profile.
He informed the audience that he had held a meeting with Eze Ogos, where they agreed that a lot had gone wrong in Aro and must be addressed so that remedies could be made as soon as possible.
He also spoke about the peace of Umu Aro stating that in the areas where this is missing, efforts are going to be made to see that peace is restored and all Aro are truly united.
Furthermore, he noted the very important job of organising Aro the way it used to be. He stated that Aro used to be a very balanced society, and it’s leadership, from Eze Ezi to Eze Ogo, to Eze Kindreds, then to Eze Aro has to be properly organised so that Aro would be a society where order in leadership comes first.
The monarch concluded that the Ububo Eze Aro n Umu Aro is a very important interactive session where all Aro across the globe would, through the use of modern communication facilities, be able to sit on the same table with Eze Aro, and interact with him one-on-one, on issues bordering on the overall development of Arochukwu Kingdom.
During the Q & A session, Eze Aro responded to Kingsley Kanu’s question on whether he plans to digitalize Arochukwu Kingdom in such a way that issues could be addressed remotely, so that one don’t necessarily have to be present to represent himself and could be digitally involved in Arochukwu matters.
He said said that such an issue, though one that is welcome, is one that would be done but not necessarily rushed into. His words, “In my practice, I use that a lot. But I also believe that there are things that are our customs, cultures, and traditions that should be preserved. We shall look into them. Things that have lesser consequences and impact, like this Zoom meeting, we should.
“There are issues like judicial matters. I am not aware there are many jurisdictions that accept remote representations for judicial matters because it’s very tricky. So we will look at what we can apply digital methods and what we have to follow orthdoxy. We have also discussed extensively how we are going to launch the Arochukwu Traditional Judicial Reform. In this, we want to ensure that we would handle judicial matters with more transparency. And that issues should be handled first at the level of Ezi to Ogo, to kindred, before it may be taken to the Palace. These things should be properly documented for people to understand the judicial process.”
Vincent Okoro, from Ugbo village, and speaking from Spain wondered what could be done to ensure the safety of farmers after the attack by Ikpanja people of Akwa Ibom State on his village in which lives were lost.
Eze Aro said, “We are acting on the boundary issues as a matter of immediacy. Right now, we are planning to send people to go for talks with our neighbors at the borders. Issues regarding land are not one you handle without great care. It’s not just Ugbo. There is also Amoba and others along that line. These villages are having the same challenges. So, with our plans to discuss, we hope to return to the farms this planting season.
He also said in response to queries on how he can attract modernisation to the community “We subscribe to the Aku Ruo Ulo Concept, and we will encourage Umu Aro who are industrialists or have factories outside to come home and establish also in Aro, to empower our youths. We are also asking those in the Diaspora to build factories too at home. ”
Philip Enyinnaya from Agbagwu, speaking from Abuja, enumerated the key schools in Arochukwu that have grossly dilapidated and lived in their past glories. He also spoke about the need for a stadium in Arochukwu and suggested that the community should have a master plan in the areas of education, agriculture, transportation, sports, etc.
Responding, Eze Aro agreed that he was right but said that Nzuko Aro already had a brilliant Master Plan for the community, which he said is in depth and masterfully drafted. “What we need to do now is to fund and implement it,” he stated.
Delight Sunday-Anicho, in her deposition, revealed that in the 18 months she has been in Aro, she has noticed an increase in erosion in Aro, with some house foundations giving in to flood.
She also noted that the quality of pupils who move to secondary schools in Aro schools are quite poor, showing that their teachers also need academic assistance. She also noted that many children do not get enough to eat at home and spend more time looking for kernels and alternative food to quench hunger when they should be studying. She asked for assistance from Eze Aro for the students.
In response, Eze Aro said “Apart from Utughugwu road that erosion is threatening to eat up, we haven’t looked at the issue of erosion generally, but now that you have mentioned it, we are going to include it in our conversation with government and with the community generally.
Speaking on the issues raised on quality of education, he said that once the foundation of a child is weak from primary school, he or she tend to struggle with education all through, no matter where they go. “they may have multiple PhDs, but when they speak, you notice that something is missing. The sentences don’t construct well because of the weak foundation. So it’s a very big disservice as a community to our children if the quality of education they receive in primary school is weak, because to close that gap is difficult later in life.”
He added that the problem can be fixed by improving the quality of teachers, which he said he has seen done in some communities.
Mazi Frank Agodi asked if there is any way the All Aro USA Clinic in the community may be upgraded to a government facility as it is well equipped. Eze Aro, in response, said yes, that the Palace will ensure that the government adopts the clinic.
Maxwell Okafor from Amuvi said he is concerned about the issues of boundary between Amuvi and Asaga villages, and suggested that the Eze Aro should also look into the matter even as they tackle the issues concerning boundaries beyond Aro. He stated that the matter has become a very serious one as their security is threatened.
In response, Eze Aro stated, “we started by saying that we will address the issues of our youths involved in drugs, cultism, and gun running. These are the agents that enemies of Aro are using against us. Going about with guns around Aro is a very serious matter, and we will take it up. ”
Amb Rev Dr. Annie Onu suggested that they are ready to support the clinics in Aro, get the best medical personnel, and pay them.
On a final note, Mazi Fred Nwankwo of Ujari (Ajalli, Anambra State), who moderated the program, took the last questions for Eze Aro.
One thing you said, Eze Aro, that touched me is that you said Arochukwu is the citadel of Igbo culture. There is no question about that, but the reality is that people don’t know where Aro stands in the history of Ndi Igbo. Aros, just like most Abians, are highly educated but very reserved. Why Igbos don’t talk about the Eze Aro, but always focus on Obi of Onitsha is what I don’t understand. So I think we need to do a lot for awareness, and flood the internet with it.
If you want to talk about Aro, Ikoku is Aro, Mbadiwe is Aro, Mbonu Ojike is Aro, I could count 1000, so the world should know about Aro, and respect it.
He also spoke about the moves to have peace, where he warned that the kind of conflicts that affected Ajalli, his hometown, must never be allowed to fester into Aro. He revealed that it took them 15 years to get a staff of office after the death of Eze Ajalli, and there is still division. “Arochukwu is our root, and we must not take the issue of conflict lightly and must do whatever we can to avoid it.”
Eze Aro, in conclusion, said there were just a few monarchs in Nigeria that could measure up with Eze Aro in the past.
His words “There is a picture, during the Colonial period when the Queen of England came to Nigeria. The Sultan of Sokoto was there, then the Eze Aro, we had just about four traditional rulers there. The Obi of Onitsha was not there. Many of the traditional rulers you hear about today weren’t there. The Obong of Calabar wasn’t there. In fact, only Eze Aro was from Eastern Nigeria in that meeting. If you think about the Eze Aro stool from a historical, traditional point of view, it is not a creation of Colonial masters. It is a truly historical, ancient, indegenous Igbo throne, and it is our collective responsibility to tell our story and preserve the eminence of that stool for the interest of all of ourselves and the entire Igbo race. When you have a stool that nobody can assail as a creation of Colonial masters or of a recent ambition, it is what it is. The stool has been preserved by our fathers. It won’t get to us, and we destroy it. The determination for Eze Aro to be able to have a say in Nigeria depends on the person who is in charge of the throne.
“We have chosen a rightful monarch, and I have my work cut out for me to make sure that when this throne speaks, Nigeria and the world should listen.” Quite epochal and innovative and no wonder why many Umuaro have been asking for the 2nd session of Ububo Eze Aro n’Umu Aro Okeigbo. Yet, it’s still morning on this beautiful ride.
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