BY FRANCIS OKOYE
The Igbo people are found in South – East Nigeria, and in some states like Delta and Rivers States in South South Nigeria. They speak the Igbo Language and claim to trace their origin to being part of the Jews of Israel, who migrated to West Africa.
Among the Igbo people and Igbo institutions in Africa, it is said that ‘Igbo enwe eze’ – translates ‘the Igbo have no king’ most Igbo people and people from other tribes in Nigeria have come to accept this as a fact. The colonial masters and the early Nigeria leaders have helped to entrench this as fact that cannot be questioned.
The Igbo people were republican in nature, political administration was a collective of all heads of individual family units with no institutional kingship system in some parts of Igbo Land. The villages practised republicanism democracy as power does not reside in one person, but collectively of elders that led to Igbo enwe Eze’ but Igbo people have kings.
IGBO PEOPLE HAVE KINGS
According to scholars on Afigbo and Omenka thesis on origin. Igbo kings trace historic roots of their investiture to the Oba of Benin hence called obi, the kings are found in Asaba, Onitsha and Oguta.
In earlier times, Igbo kings were ancient priests who combined clerical and political duties in village based republics and were known as Eze. The Eze existed in Arochukwu, Awka, Ovoko, Nri, Owerri, Enugu Ezike, Iheakpu, and Ihiala.
Onitsha, Oguta, Aro, Osamara and Nri, all Igbo Kingdoms operated a kingship system long before European administration .Nri kingdom was established in 948 ce and is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria. First Eze Nri (Ifikuanim) was a priestly king.
The concept of kingship was not alien to Igbo people ie Eze who is the holder of ofo – symbol of truth and justice is regarded as king. Ie Eze – ji – ofor.
The Third source of kingship in Igbo Land was in the 19th – 20th century, when the British empire under indirect rule policy, warrant chiefs were established
THE EMERGENCY OF TRADTIONAL RULERS
Before the Nigeria Biafra war, the Eastern region had a House of chiefs, which played a role in the start of the war and governmence. After the war, Ukpabi Asika, the Administrator of eastern Nigeria abolished the House of chiefs and instead encouraged Town unions relegating chiefs.
In 1976 FG set up Government reform committee headed by Alh Ibrahim Dasuki, In a report by East central State, Prof Adiele Aligbo to implement report set up Autonomous communities, officially recognizing Traditional rulers for each community in chieftaincy edit No8 Sept 2 1976. The edit describes a Traditional Rulers as a Traditional head of an autonomous Community, identified and selected by his people according to their tradition and usages.
KING OF IGBO LAND
On 4th May 1996, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was installed Eze Igbo Gburugburu, meaning king of Igbo people by Adama Nri, Chief S.O Mbanefo, thus lying to rest the theory that Igbo people have no king. Ojukwu, a general in the army led the Igbo nation (Biafra) including South South Nigeria to a secession war from 1967 – 1970. After the death of Ojukwu in 2012, his Traditional prime Minister ,who was installed at the same time with him, onowu Hon Dr M NO Okoye Jp became the Igbo regent and also continued as the Onowu Igbonine,the traditional prime Minister of Igbo Land.
The death of Ojukwu, the Igbo king has yet to throw up contestants to the kingship of Igbo people, as its selection is solely by the ancestral home of Igbo Land ie Nri, kingmakers, meanwhile Onowu Hon. Dr. M.N. Ozua Okoye (JP) stands in the gap as an illustrious Igbo leader and official leader of Igbo’s in Nigeria as explained on his website, www.igbohighchiefs.org
As a result of this new development, Ojukwu and his Onowu have installed Eze Igbo in many parts of the country like Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, etc, so that Igbo’s in those area’s would have kings to take care of them in Diaspora while Eze Igbo Gburugburu is the overall Eze
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