Tribute to tradition: Passing of revered monarchs’

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

In the silent hours of the night, the community mourns the departure of her luminaries, her beacon of tradition, and custodians of wisdom. The passing of a revered traditional leader echoed across valleys and hills, marking the end of an era and casting a veil of solemnity over the land.

Known for their sagacity, they had guided the people through epochs, weaving the tapestry of the community with threads of wisdom and timeless customs.
They stood as a cornerstone, not merely figure heads, but repository of history, stories, and the sacred wisdom that bound generations together.

The news of their departure spread like a draught through ancient trees, leaving behind an emotional trail of memories and a collective yearning for the guidance they once bestowed. Villages and towns, once bustling with the leader’s presence, now reverberated with a poignant silence, each heartbeat resonating with the pain of loss.

Their legacy, however, is not confined to the boundaries of mortal existence. It will linger in the rustle of leaves.

Lake Eze Ogbonna

It was a homage to a life lived in service, a tribute to the legacy that would endure beyond the veils of mortality. Elders and young alike will gather, not only to grieve but to honour and celebrate a life steeped in reverence and dedication to their heritage.

The Ikperejere Autonomous Community of Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, and beyond grieve the loss of a genuine leader and nurturing father, His Royal Highness, Eze Godfrey Chiwuike Ogbonna, alongside his beloved wife, and mother of the community, Ugoeze Mabel Abarugo Ogbonna.

Born into the family of Late Ogbonna Keke of Umura Umuopara-Owerri Ikperejere 87 years ago, the late Ogbonna embodied a destined purpose for his people and generation. His beloved wife, Ugoeze Mabel A. Ogbonna, joined this world 83 years ago into the family of late Efogu Okoronkwo of Umuduru, now Ikpenweafor Autonomous Community, Ikperejere.

Their journey began with successful primary school careers in 1951 and 1956, respectively. Following this, Late Eze Godfrey Chiwuike Ogbonna ventured into businesses such as bread baking, trading, and farming, while Ugoeze Mabel Ogbonna pursued human resources development, excelling as a competent seamstress and domestic science instructress. Their union was blessed with two sons.

Notably, the young Ogbonna served his people fervently, earning the honour of being chosen by the Ikperejere Council of Elders as their Traditional Ruler in 1979. His recognition by the Imo State Government under the able leadership of Chief Sam Mbakwe with a staff of office followed. Subsequently, a grand Coronation was organized by the entire Ikperejere community, cementing his position as their traditional ruler, known as “The Aroji 1 of Ikperejere” on December 26, 1992.

The 44-year reign of Late Ogbonna was marked by progress, substantial community impact, and unwavering peace among the people, stakeholders, and leaders.

Sadly, the once joyous reign of Ogbonna concluded amidst pain and sorrow. In 1996, tragedy struck when his first son and all his children succumbed to a fatal road accident in Abuja. Again in 2019, another devastating blow befell the family as his second son, the only surviving Prince, Kenneth Aghaerimba Ogbonna, and another grandson passed away.

Witnessing the burials of his two beloved sons and three grandchildren, Late Eze Godfrey Chiwuike Ogbonna, and his wife endured immense sorrow. The stark reality of living without biological or adopted children left them in profound shock and often plunged them into deep sadness.
The children who were meant to care for them in old age or in times of need are no longer present.
In the face of all, he was one of the longest-serving Eze in Okigwe zone and the lengthiest in Ihitte/Uboma LGA.

The vast expanse of space wouldn’t suffice for those eager to bear witness to the enduring legacy left by the departed monarchs. Amidst them stands a notable witness: His Royal Highness, Eze Rev Jude Uwalaka, the Ihi 111 of Umuihi Ancient Kingdom. As Chairman of the Ihitte/Uboma Traditional Rulers Council and the Chairman of Community Policing, who eloquently portrayed the late Eze as a paragon of virtue—a man of remarkable goodness, unwavering truth, and steadfast reliability. He painted a portrait of simplicity, highlighting the late Eze’s unwavering dedication to serving the Lord, emphasizing that he epitomized Christian values to the core.

Eze Uwalaka

“He abhorred evil, he served the people of Ikperejere judiciously and in dignity without taking sides. I used to see the wife; she was a very good and virtuous woman after the heart of her husband, a good woman to the core. She was a true embodiment of an ‘Ugoeze Diya’, they never settled for anything less than true ideal of life”, he expressed. Whatever comes the way of man as God design to teach us a lesson of life, he is the one that gives including children and he takes, Uwalaka admitted.

According to Uwalaka “Ihitte/Uboma would forever remember the good works of the late Eze, his sincerity and doggedness; “we will miss his fatherly advice as the most senior Eze in Ihitte/uboma.”

“I advise people of the community to uphold that peace he had instituted. They should uphold fairness and equity in their choice of next Eze, by so doing, they will immortalize ‘Aroji’ and the wife well, uphold their rotatory system of selection”.

RT. Hon Okeke

To Rt. Hon. Jonas Okeke, former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Aroji and Ugoeze Ogbonna were noble, kind in thought and action, faithful to duty, pure and simple hearted. their union and reign on the throne were made in heaven.
Emphasising they were popular choice of Ikperejere people.”You were chosen by the people and not via election, so no fraud was committed in your choice to lead.

“You were epitome of whatever God termed the ruler of his people.
“If we are to come this way again, you shall be our king and we shall be your subjects,” Hon. Okeke said.

Hon. Engr. Sam Nwaire, former Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Government on Energy described Aroji and the wife as peaceful family and peaceful monarchs.

Hon. Nwaire

“Aroji and our Ugoeze brought honour and dignity to Ikperejere. They were humble and galvanized the potentials of the community to it’s greatest advantage. They have etched their footprints on the sands of time,” he said.

Ven Chukwudi Ekeanyanwu, the clerical Synod Secretary of Okigwe South Diocese of the Anglican Communion said Aroji and the Ugoeze despite being devoted Roman Catholics supported all churches in Ikperejere. Recalled how he stood by him during his ordination despite other pressing engagements around him.
Ven Ekeanyanwu said, “Above all, they served the community selflessly. Aroji was a very nice man, during my ordination at Ezeoke, Aroji followed me from the Cathedral to my station at Umezealansu for my ordination thanksgiving.

“He remained supportive to his people in whatever way he could. He served our people with dedication and commitment. He never died a disgraceful death. All that happened to him were unfortunate and not by his making, those that are alive according to the Bible are not better than those that are dead.

“They were very nice couple and blessing to Ikperejere. They served our people with all in them. Though he was not highly educated, he was able to stabilize and accommodate all shades of opinion from both the educated, highly educated and not educated.

Ven. Ekeanyanwu

“He was not over ambitious, all that come his way was what God destined for him unlike what we experience today.
“Unless the lord builds the house, in vain the builders labor. Every aspiration should be in line with what God wants you to be. Don’t kill because you want to be this or that. Subject that your aspiration to God, let him decide. whatever you get through ‘all means’ vanishes in a twinkle of an eye.”

Also, Former President, Ikperejere Development Union, High-Chief Charly Korie said Aroji was a humble man to the core, who respected all men and every authority, he did not take nonsense, he added. He guarded and guided his position as custodian of culture and tradition.

“He was a very wise king that many drew from his wisdom. When he speaks, you hear wisdom flowing,” he expressed.

High-Chief Korie

According to Korie, the reign of the late Eze and his wife was very peaceful, adding he had a listening ear. He said though his openness to most people was abused by the few he entrusted with authority, however he gave everyone long rope to prove or disprove themselves.
“Ugoeze was as humble and peaceful beyond you could imagine. You cannot hear her voice at any point or quarrelling with anyone. She accommodated and tolerated all manner of things. In fact she was humble to a fault. Her being an ‘Ugoeze’ never entered her head and got her intoxicated.”

HRH, Eze Innocent Onuoha, Ikpe 1 of Ikpenweafor, said the late Eze Ogbonna was a true servant of God who had his trust and confidence in God. He never allowed any situation or circumstance deter him from worshipping his God. He has God deeply in his heart. He believed that whatever comes his way was the will of his maker, he took them in good faith like the kings and prophets of old without coursing God, he believed that God’s time was the best. He has that philosophy of vanity upon vanity is vanity.
His peaceful demeanor robed off on Ikperejere, umuoma and Ikpenweafor (these communities carved out from Ikperejere), his wife was a caring and loving mother per excellence.

The Anyaku 1 of Ikperejere, Dr. Ezekiel Orji, who is one of the few living first set of Chiefs crowned during the late Eze’s coronation in 1992 said the late monarch was so humble, and down to earth.

“He knew the customs and tradition. He was a prayer warrior. When you hear him pray, you will be assured and convinced it was coming from a high priest like the kings of the old selected by God, he had fear of God in him.

“He has helped us to understand our culture so well. They are on the tip of his fingers. He was well endowed with history of our people and Uboma, he was a man of God, he brought himself down, he made himself first a chief servant of his people, and he was a good man. He has a listening ear.

In the words of Rev. Fr. Joseph Nwokenkwo, an indigene of Ikperejere said it was on account of the late Eze’s uprightness that the community unanimously did all things necessary to give him a befitting burial. “He was not a corrupt ruler, if they were corrupt, there would have been so much money in their house now to spend, they were upright”, the Rev Fr. Nwokenkwo voiced.

“If you take any form of dispute to him especially land dispute, and he gets to know the land does not belong to you, he would tell you regardless of your closeness to him to discontinue from such claim that it’s not yours, notwithstanding his age; he does not exult any form of corruption and evil.

He sticks to the truth; his many years of being at home gave him an advantage to understand so much concerning our history and antecedents in Ikperejere. He and the wife brought reigned in humility, supported the down trodden. Whether you are rich or poor he does not look at your face in giving fair judgment”.

President General of Ikperejere Development Union(IDU), ThankGod Emeji, described the late Eze as a very humble and quiet man, adding he was a stickler of rules. His Ezeship was borne out of destiny, and he never contested it with another, its God that placed him there for a purpose. “Truth is always peaceful in its deeds, its falsehood that gets worried and disturbed,” he expressed.

“He is a strict respecter of culture, Aroji and the wife are not influenced by wealth, and he is not a political traditional ruler unlike what is obtainable today. He only supports the government in power, he was not the type that go about collecting money from politicians”, Emeji expressed, our traditional rulers should learn from Aroji’s truthfulness and uprightness, he added.

Also, High Chief Chigozie Chukwu is the Akuebionwu 1, the Onowu of Ikperejere Ancient Kingdom said the late Eze was a true semblance of his title, ‘Aroji’, he stood his ground against falsehood, corruption, nepotism, favoritism. He was a very truthful man, and his recognition is not by mistake, it was God’s desire and design.

“He reigned long on the throne for over 40 years because he was a truthful man, if he were not truthful, he would have gone long before now. Any ruler that does not take truthfulness as his watchword will not last. His wife was also like Sarah of old. They were never ambitious, they were contented with the little they had, and from there, he was doing the little he could to help his people.

Dr. Dan Okeke, one of the kinsmen of the late Ugoeze extolled the virtues of humility of their sister Abaraugo, he said,” I knew she was brought up by the late Ezurike and the wife having lost her parents at a very tender age, she grew up under her brothers chief Levi, Lemchi and Godfrey. She was very humble and respectful, she was not proud; she became an Ugoeze by God’s desire.

“Aroji was nice and jovial, whenever you go to him for any form of recommendation you will get it with dispatch. He was a man of integrity; he speaks the truth regardless of whose ox is gored. Others should learn not to be autocratic; he was humble to the core, he so much strode in sincerity and accountability.”

Veronica

Woman Leader of Ikperejere community, Veronica Ikeme Ngozi expressed. “Am so down casted over the death of this my sister, for we are from the same kindred in Ikperejere. She was a very humble woman to the core, who does not hurt a fly.
We are now their children. The women have assured to give the maximum support. Aroji was a true, real and genuine custodian of culture, he doesn’t take bribe, an ‘Iroko’ has indeed fallen in Ikperejere”, she expressed

While calling for show of love, the woman leader urged people of the community to honour the monarch and his wife to rest any thing that has to do with getting another Eze for at least one year as a mark of respect.

Dan Orji an illustrious son of the community recalled how Aroji served many years as secretary of Ikperejere and Uboma elders council in the 1970s prior to the enactment of traditional ezeship edict in the state in 1979.

“Aroji and Ugoeze served well. He Aroji was a respected leader of then Ikperejere made up of today: Umuoma, Ikpenweafor and Ikperejere Communities. Since his ascendance as the first recognized Eze in Ikperejere, he stabilized the community, brought about peace. He was very unassuming and with high intelligence, he stood very tall among Eze’s in Ihitte/Uboma, he was an epitome of truth. If you wish to be economical with the truth, don’t involve Aroji, else, he would expose you. Any false information you bring to the attention of Aroji and expected him to hold it back for you, you are making a very big mistake. He was like a smokescreen that cannot be hidden, and cannot be diluted. “Aroji speaks it as it is not as he feels or wishes’.

Orji

“In US, their death was a rude shock to us, that accounted to the reason they all lent their support to giving them befiting burial.”

Also, Godson Osuagwu, Chairman Burial Planning Committee said the late monarch lived a humble, fulfilled, respectable and Christian life.

Osuagwu who had no regrets serving as the burial committee chairman assured the people of Ikperejere, Ndieze and Uboma clans that the respected monarchs would be given befitting burial expected of a traditional ruler.

He urged other autonomous communities carved out of Ikperejere to rally support for Eze ogbonna and her Ugoeze, a resounding farewell, insisting they were epitome of good leadership.

“He was not a ruler but a leader of honest repute. He was a good man indeed; he never opposed the splitting of his kingdom. He supported the creation of other communities out of his kingdom.

He was the only man who never lost sleep in letting his kingdom be split. Very few traditional rulers would do that”, he argued.
“ This time around it’s very proper we give them back, they gave their all. It’s time for all to come out, show and prove that he was indeed a good man,” Osuagwu expressed.