By Afam Edozie
It is interesting to note that the author, Prof Okoro Ijoma is a prolific writer and historian of high repute. He is well-grounded in Igbo history and was a lecturer in a prestigious higher institution of learning: University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Undoubtedly, he is known for his enormous and available contributions on historical scholarship. People that know him, particularly his fellow scholars, students and journalist will always attest to the fact that he writes the way he lives: deeply passionate and brutally honest-with arresting sincerity and a total, almost naïve belief in the ultimate triumph of good over evil. His ideas, thoughts and write-ups are usually geared towards ensuring emancipation of man and woman from shackles of ignorance. He largely likes to impact knowledge, and as a historian, chronicles his books, features or write-ups the way they should be without bias. He engages in a lot of research in order to convince his readers. Prof. Ijoma, who would always want to be addressed as Mazi Okoro Ijoma has amazing intellect, broad vision and pragmatic nature which make him absolutely a remarkable writer of our present time.
The Making of Eze Aro IX is quite an exciting, thrilling, enlightening and educative book anyone who likes literature and desires to acquire knowledge on how the current Eze Aro, Dr. Eberechukwu Eni Kanu Oji emerged would want to possess and digest.
Mazi Ijoma, a master story teller, arranged the six chapters of the book in order that helps the reader to fully understand the contents of the book. To somebody who does not know about the community or town of where the Eze or King has been crowned, the introduction of the community or town is certainly necessary.
Therefore, he commences with his first chapter – Arochukwu and its people. Stating the geographical location and the neighbors of the Umu Aro people – Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bende and Umuahia gives the reader a clearer picture of where Aro is situated. It also paints the socio-cultural and even political affinity Aro as a people have with these communities. Obviously he tries to enlighten us on the contributions of the Aro to the social, economic, political and cultural life of the peoples of South Eastern Nigeria which he clearly noted: “cannot be over-emphasized”. He made mention of the “Aro Problem” in the last two decades of the 19th century. Thus, the way it occupied the minds of the British officials and traders at the period, was how to replace the influence of the Aro with that of the British. Ijoma, none the less, paints the picture of the profound influence the Aro held those olden days amongst the Southern Nigeria albeit the Easterners.
Certainly, he was able to convince his reader with evidence of the greatness of the Aro and socio-economic and political power the community was noted for. They are known as the greatest travelers amongst the Igbos and settled virtually everywhere in the world. It is a fact that assists them till tomorrow. A people known to rally around each other whenever one experiences difficulty and once he or she sees an Aro person, the matter is settled. Thus, lived life of unity, progress, understanding and ever ready to render selfless assistance to each other. The author mentions the names of villages that make up Aro to buttress the largeness of the area and also the population of the town which is great.
Chapter Two: His Eminence, Dr Eberechukwu Oji, Eze Aro IX:
His Background explains largely the personality of the emerging king (Eze). Full knowledge about the Eze Aro will inevitably equip the reader on who and what the Eze Aro is made up of. From his narration of the profile of Eberechukwu Oji, the author prepares the mind of the render of the capacity and competence of the man on whom leadership is about to be bestowed upon. Eberechukwu, according to him, hails from a powerful background with highly educated parents who are also exposed to the world. Ebere’s curricula vitae, which he chronicles perhaps in order of importance exhibits that in terms of academics, administration and exposure that the man is highly qualified for the task ahead. A well-trained Electrical and Electronic Engineer from reputable school, who later gained admission in good schools for his masters degree programs in various fields including business administration shows that the man passed the first litmus test in Eze-in-making.
In order to buttress his family background, the wife’s Curriculum Vitae, Nneoma, who is a pastor in well-established church – Redeemed Christian Church was highlighted. Manager of a very successful large company – Nestar Corporate Services and later diversified into other businesses shows the kind of person behind Eberechukwu. The up shot of this is that the family is grounded in Christianity where the man also is a pastor and the wife not only a pastor but teaches Bible to children and youths which is reflective and testaments of their children. What a good family?
Eberechukwu Oji also has parents who are educated and enlightened. The father, Rev. Prince Joshua Oji has an intimidating profile and most vital, hails from a royal family. Third son of the famous Eze Kanu Oji. He was said to have reigned for several years and should be seen as a reference point in the making of Eze Aro.
Rev. Prince Joshua Oji, father of Eberechukwu is said to have some number of publications. This reviewer believes that the author must have made research from some of the publications that dwell on the Aro history and the Christian religion. Ebere’s mother, a psychiatric nurse, who later obtained doctorate in Conflict Resolution from Imo State University and first degree in Botany from UNN is also sound upstairs. This shows how prepared Eberechukwu Oji was to be seen to be qualified for the Eze stool. With the rich background which Eberechukwu acquired from his parents and from his own accomplishment, shows he is pre-eminently equipped to give his people the leadership they need as Eze Aro.
Chapter Three: The death of Eze Aro, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro and the interregnum is the main crux of the book. Obviously, if there is no vacuum, there will not be need for replacement hence the need for the making of Eze Aro the ninth. It is in this Chapter that I got to know that there is volume one of this book. This one is volume two. According to the author, there are laid down processes to making of Eze Aro. The process commences immediately the death of a previous Eze Aro is announced and after his burial and rites is concluded. Ijoma noted that Eze Mazi Kanu Oji died in 1987 and his first son, Mazi Oji Kanu Oji, acted as the Arianzu (Regent). Thus, acting until the Okennachi kindred, the family that produce the Eze Aro come out with the candidate. The writer observes that Mazi Vincent Ogbonnaya Okoro was presented to the Aro community in 1988 by the Okennachi kindred as the next Eze Aro. One Mazi Kanu Idei, a member of the royal house, contested the action in court of law. The rest is history. The matter was said to have lingered in court until Mazi Idei, died in 1995 and the case was struck off. Ogbonnaya Okoro ruled for twenty-five years and was said to have maintained relative peace. His ill-health created problem in the community as the Council of Ndi Ezeogo and other two principal chiefs did not have smooth working relationship that would promote peace.
The writer makes us to understand that with the calibre of elites and powerful persons Aro have the community was able to wriggle from various squabbles, problems bothering on leadership and the like. However, by 2014, according to Ijoma, body of National Patron drew up a charter of Traditional Governance in Aro and it was signed by Nde Eze Ogo, the two principal chiefs, leadership of Nzuko Aro and Rev. Joshua Oji on behalf of the palace. This somehow led to peace in Aro.
Undoubtedly, Mazi Okoro Ijeoma, the author has been in politics of Aro. He was appointed one-time chairman of the National Body for Rites of Passage Committee for the burial of Eze Aro, Vincent Ogbonnaya Okoro. The Committee has notable personalities as members like Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Hon. Justice Onwuchekwa as Vice Chairman while Dr. Alex Otti, current Governor, Sir, Dozie Udensi, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor were members. No wonder, Ijoma is knowledgeable in the making of Eze Aro. Immediately after the burial of Okoro, the then Eze Aro on April 5th, 2021, Mazi, Augustine Kanu Okoro from Oror was appointed Arianzu. Ideally, Obioha, the son of the late Eze, should have acted as Arianzu but he preferred to nominate a much older person in the larger family to act. This presupposes that at any point in time somebody was acting; there was no vacuum but the main Eze Aro may not be in stool. The writer observed that there were some years the position was vacant noting that it does not augur well for development of the town socially, economically and politically.
The writer takes his readers sequentially and he notes that the agitation for a new Eze Aro to be presented started after May 2021. According to him “in fact, on December 27th, 2022, a delegation of the Body of National Patron comprising Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Sir Dave Imoko, Dr. OJ Nnanna and the chairman met with the leadership of Okennachi to emphasis the urgency for emergence of new Eze Aro for the people. Mazi Ijoma, even published the selection process in this book for clarity purpose. This makes it easier for the reader to grasp what are required for the process of making of Eze Aro. He also published the letters written by certain persons and groups. Critical letters were said to have emanated from the Body of National Patrons, Nzuko Aro Worldwide signed by Sir. Nnadozie Udensi (Ugwu Aro), President General, Nzuko Aro Worldwide and Dr. Kanu Ohuche (Ugwu Aro) Secretary General, Nzuko Aro Worldwide. There in the letter, they asked the leadership of Okennachi to commence steps to resolve whatever conflicts that is withholding the selection and coronation of a new Eze Aro as quickly as practicable to save the community from avoidable traditional institution crisis that may follow. Okennachi leaders were also urged to consult Aro elites, leaders, Eze Ogos, National Patrons of Nzuko Aro, leadership of Nzuko Aro with a view to seeking their advice on the way forward. It is believed that Eze Aro monarchy is a collective community patrimony.
The author also spent time and space to discuss extensively the role of Nzuko Aro in the making of Eze Aro the IX. Of course, he equally understands the impact of Town Union activities in Igbo land as a whole. According to him, Nzuko Aro was formed in 1981 when several unions and groups, including the Aro Union, Aro league, Aro women group and Aro youth put aside their separate identities to form one strong organisation. It was at the prodding of late Mazi Kanu Oji CFR to promote the unity of the kingdom. It serves effectively as the official voice of the Aros. At this point, I must state that there were repetition of facts, though could be for emphasis but was to me, rather unnecessary hence the letters were quite explicit. Thus, letter from Nzuko Aro to Okennachi. Apparently, prompted by the letter, Okennachi set up process in selection of Eze Aro and at the end of the exercise, Eberechukwu Oji was selected and presented to Utughugwu, Bianko and Amaja on Thursday, October 19th, 2023.
The writer swiftly pointed out that things were moving smoothly until the next day, October 20th, 2023, when Okennachi wrote to complain that “Eze Ibom Isii, without proper delegation of Okennachi led by the President General, surreptitiously and illegally crowned Mazi Godwin Kanu Idei who was not selected as Eze Aro-elect by Okennachi kindred”. The letter also requested Nzuko Aro to nip the brewing crisis in the bud by bringing the matter to the attention of relevant authorities. The eschew monopoly of facts and ideas allowed inputs from notable Aro citizens who he also published their reports unedited. These personalities are: Mazi Udo Chijioe, President General, Okennachi Kindred, Mazi Anicho Okoro, Ugwu Aro, 1st Vice President General of Nzuko Arochukwu, Oji Ogbonnaya Oji, PhD, (Ugwu Aro) Secretary/CEO of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and others.
The writer disclosed that certain committees were established to ensure that Eze Aro was enthroned. According to him: “strategic committee members made up of serious minded persons stepped in to salvage the situation”. They were said to have worked with committee on fact-finding to arrive at a solution. Both committees, strategic and fact-finding together with Utuaghagwu committee blended and later came out with individual reports that were coalesced together to from one report. Certain qualifications in line with tradition and some other criteria needed to become Eze Aro designate of the 21st century were identified, discussed and agreed. Attention of every Aro man and woman was drawn to the issues of Eze Aro. Some personalities of Aro agreed that there was a new world order that has left the old order and that the people must be in tune with the new order which is dynamic, digital, progressive in nature and assists humanity greatly in every endeavour and called on their people to absolutely embrace it in order not to be left behind. Informed by their input, Aro is like communities like Onitsha, Ife, Benin, Kano and the like and therefore should have an Eze Aro of the status of these traditional rulers.
They maintained that peace and unity was vital in growth of a community stressing that Aro people were noted for their hardwork, unity, perseverance and honesty whenever they are. The photographs in this book certainly are of poor quality. A book of this nature should have had the pictures displayed on it as crystal clear as possible. I am in love with this simple English language-less usage of high or wide vocabulary. The words are quite simple. It makes reading, particularly of an average literate person, easy to comprehend the contents.
I recommend the book to every Aro man and woman whenever they are. Students of history should make themselves available to collect the book. It serves as reference point. Since education is a continuum, advice everyone in school to have a copy of the book. The over design is okay though the picture infront of the book is not sharp. The leaves of the book are not binded well which makes some of them to pull out. Beyond these few observations, the book is highly recommended to the reading public and libraries.