…I’m Speechless, Embarrassed. This Is Disheartening – Hon Azeru Opara
The Port Harcourt City Council of Chiefs has wielded its hammer on the member representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Azeru Opara over a chieftaincy titled given to him by in December, 2020 which the council says, does not have its authorization.
In a statement rebutting the chieftaincy installation on Azeru and one Emmanuel Orlu Nti, titled: ‘Illegal and Unlawful Installation/Coronation of Chiefs in Rebisi Kingdom and Attendant Sanctions’, the Council accused some persons in Rebisi Kingdom of what it called a new occupation of attempting to throw the Kingdom (Port Harcourt) into chaos by creating illegal chiefdoms within Rebisi Kingdom.
It noted that the kingdom had a very clear and ambiguous custom, tradition and heritage governing the issues of nomination, selection, presentation and coronation of its traditional rulers, adding: “These custom and tradition has governed the nomination, selection, presentation and the eventual coronation of the traditional rulers of Rebisi Kingdom (Port Harcourt) from the deemest antiquity until today and the said custom has remained extant and unwavering”.
The Council in the statement that was jointly signed by Eze Worgu Okabie, Eze Epara Obaziorlu Worukwo (Vice Chairman) and HRH Eze Christopher N. Wonodi JP (Secretary), the council also accused some persons said to be hiding under the cloak of CDCs or masquerading as Owhor Holders of arrogating to themselves, the powers to install chiefs in the kingdom.
It pointedly accused one Elder Nnanta Nnokam of Rumuokokwu family of Oroworukwo clan in Rebisi Kingdom to have purportedly installed Hon. Azeru Opara as Eze Udo Worukwo as well as one Elder Christian Chukwu of Rumu-Woji family in Oro-Abali clan in Rebisi Kingdom who purportedly installed one Emmanuel Orlu Nti Woji as Eze Obomotu, without the customary fiat to do so in the kingdom.
As a consequence of the purported violation of the extant custom, tradition and heritage of Rebisi people without fiat to do so, the Port Harcourt City Council of Chiefs has imposed fine and penalty against Hon. Azeru Opara, Emmanuel Orlu Nti as well as those who performed the installations namely, Elder Nnanta Nnokam and Elder Christian Chukwu.
The fine and penalty, according to the statement include Seven Bulls each; Seven cartons of Cognac; Seven crates of assorted soft drinks; Fifty tubers of yam to go with each Bull; and any other customary items that go with fines and penalty of this same category in Rebisi Kingdom.
While warning that the same penalty would be imposed on any person in Rebisi Kingdom who decides to make what it called nonsense of the customs and tradition of the kingdom governing the nomination, selection, presentation and installation of traditional rulers, the Council informed the general public that Hon. Azeru Opara and Emmanuel Orlu Nti are not traditional rulers in Rebisi Kingdom.
When contacted, the lawmaker, Hon. Azeru Opara said he would not want to join issues with the Port Harcourt City Council of Chiefs as they remain his fathers and that as a chief, he would eventually become part of them.
He however, said he was surprised, speechless and disheartened at the action of the Council, and accused them of taking sides. He noted that before one becomes a Chief in Rumuokokwu community, the process of being chosen by his family must be followed.
He explained that the Eze Udo stool is one that had been in his village, Rumuokokwu, Rebisi and has had 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th occupants, adding that he was crowned the 5th Eze Udo of the community.
“After you have been selected by your family, you will be taken to the Rebisi Council of Chiefs for formal recognition”, he said, adding that that process had been duly complied with.
On how the stool of Eze Udo came to his family, Hon. Opara explained that his late uncle occupied the stool but could not be taken to the Council before his demise.
“When the time came for the installation of a new Eze Udo, the Rumuokokwu community resolved it should remain in my family and the family chose me to wear the crown”, he explained.
