Ewelike Family In Oforola Petitions Imo Assembly Speaker Over Chieftaincy Title Usurpation By Anthony Amadi And HRH Eze Kingsley Ajoku

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6th November, 2024

The Speaker
Imo State House Of
Assembly
Owerri,

Right Honourable,

CONTENTION ON THE CHIEFTAINCY TITLE OF “UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA ANCIENT KINGDOM” GIVEN TO ONE ANTHONY AMADI BY HRH EZE KINGSLEY AJOKU

We are the Children of Late Chief B. E. T. Ewelike, the Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola. Our attention was drawn to a supposed ceremony sponsored by HRH Eze Kingsley Ajoku of Oforola Ancient Kingdom, wherein on the 12th of October 2024, he conferred Chieftaincy titles on four sons of Oforola Ancient Kingdom, namely :

1. Chief Robertson Nwankwo, as Omenkeahurunanya 1 of Oforola.
2. Chief Geoffrey Ogbonna, as Ohiahuruagu 1 of Oforola.
3. Anthony Amadi, as Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola.
4. Chief Chinedu Ohaju, Omeudo 1 of Oforola.

This was followed with a Heartland FM Radio (Owerri) Announcement that indeed, the above named persons were conferred with Chieftaincy titles on the 12th of October 2024 by Eze Kingsley Ajoku, including one Anthony Amadi, as Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola. According to the Heartland FM Radio announcement, the purported Chieftaincy conferment was witnessed by the following persons :

1. Hrh Eze H A Ekeocha .
2. Hrh Eze Geoffrey Ejimogu.
3. Traditional Prime Minister, Ichie Lawrence Ekeigwe.
4. Mr Victor Nwankwo, Former Sole Administrator of Owerri-west Local Government Area.
5. The Eze-In-Cabinet.
6. And a host of other invited guests.

Ordinarily, kingship or Ezeship is for the interest of the common man in a community, and to care for their welfare, not forgetting attracting cultural, traditional, social, economic and political development to the given community. But in Oforola, the way it is perceived, leaves much to be desired. One therefore begin to wonder and imagine how Eze Kingsley Ajoku emerged as the Traditional Ruler of Oforola Ancient Kingdom in 2021, when his activities exposed him as lacking in the knowledge of the culture and traditions of Oforola, especially as it relates to conferring Chieftaincy titles on persons.

Red Cap Chiefs are titled Men who are recognized in their various communities as, vis-a-vis ; Ozo’s, Nze’s, Ichie’s, Ogbuefi’s and so on. The Red Cap is a symbol of Authority, Culture and Tradition, and it represents Chieftaincy Institution, its power and authority. Those permitted to wear this sacred Cap must have met certain standards, which must be maintained. For example, they are not expected to lie, swindle or engage in any activity capable of bringing the Traditional Institution into disrepute. In short, it is against natural justice to confer Chieftaincy title on people of questionable characters.

It is therefore a misnomer to note that Hrh Eze Kingsley Ajoku who has failed on all fronts, dishes out Chieftaincy titles to certain persons. If it is discovered and confirmed that a Chieftaincy title has been wrongly conferred on a person or there is a duplication of a particular Chieftaincy title in a particular community, such chieftaincy title is withdrawn from the second conferred person, to avert crisis and conflicts, especially, as it relates to the Imo State Government ; vis-a-vis, Regulation of Chieftaincy Titles…… This therefore means that no responsible Traditional Ruler can confer a Chieftaincy title on a person, without first cross-checking if another person had been conferred with the same title in a given community. Hence, you have Nwachinemere 1 and Nwachinemere 11, but if two persons were conferred with Nwachinemere 1 in a given community, then the second Awardee should be guilty of impersonation, and the Traditional Ruler who conferred such title on the second person shall be termed irresponsible, reckless, criminal and troublesome and out to cause chaotic situation in his community. The implication, therefore, is that such a Traditional Ruler is not worthy, in character and conduct, to be a traditional ruler.

Mr Speaker, Having laid the foundation of this petition, we the children of Late Chief B. E. T. Ewelike therefore declare that Anthony Amadi is an IMPOSTOR UGOCHINYERE 1 OFOROLA ANCIENT KINGDOM, and we all know the consequences, as drastic measures should be taken against him and Eze Kingsley Ajoku. It should be noted that an impostor is a person with a criminal intent who is dishonestly pretending to be someone else in order to gain an advantage.

Moving forward, let us open the minds of the Speaker and inform him that our Distinguished Father Of Blessed Memory, Chief Blessing Eberechukwu Tony (BET) Ewelike (1946 — 2020) was conferred with the title UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA. His Chieftaincy conferment took place in 1991 (33 years ago) at the Palace of HRH Eze Dr Herbert Obichere, The Ezeola 1 of Oforola, Owerri-west Local Government Area of Imo State.

Our Honourable Father, Chief Blessing Eberechukwu Tony (BET) Ewelike, the one and only UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA ANCIENT KINGDOM , as a leader of many parts and versatility, was

• Former President General (PG) Oforola Development Union.
• Pioneer President ; Age Group D Age Grade, Oforola.
• Posthumous Member ; Oforola Traditional Council.
• A Community Leader.
• A Philanthropist.
• An Astute Advocate And Youth Empowerment And Human Resource Enthusiast.

One therefore begin to wonder from which custom and tradition did Eze Kingsley Ajoku derive the power and authority to confer on another person the Chieftaincy title of UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA? Our Father left the earthly scene in the year 2020, and in 2021 Kingsley Ajoku became an Eze. So it is safe to conclude he knew our father and aware of his Ugochinyere 1 Of Oforola Chieftaincy title. Is it not hypocrisy that Eze Kingsley Ajoku who does not bear the same title as the late Ezeola 1 of Oforola chose to impersonate conferment of the title of UGOCHINYERE 1 that was conferred on my father by the late Ezeola 1 of Oforola? How come Eze Ajoku goes by the title Ezeola11 of Oforola?

Mr Speaker, It is therefore clear and obvious that this same Kingsley Ajoku, who became an Eze in 2021, intentionally hobnobbed with Anthony Amadi to desecrate my Father’s Chieftaincy title of Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola.

Mr Speaker, it was on the strength of the above reasons that we wrote a Disclaimer on the 20th of October 2024, wherein we made the following demands :

1. That Eze Kingsley Ajoku should withdraw the Chieftaincy title of Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola conferred on Anthony Amadi on the 12th of October 2024.
2. That Eze Kingsley Ajoku should organize another ceremony in Oforola wherein he would announce that he has withdrawn the Chieftaincy title of Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola given to Anthony Amadi.
3. That Eze Kingsley Ajoku should sponsor Radio and Television Announcements RETRACTING the Chieftaincy title of Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola conferred on Anthony Amadi.
4. That Eze Kingsley Ajoku should sponsor Newspaper Advertorial publications RETRACTING the Chieftaincy title of Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola conferred on Anthony Amadi.
5. That Eze Kingsley Ajoku should sponsor Social Media publications RETRACTING the Chieftaincy title of Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola conferred on Anthony Amadi.
6. That Eze Kingsley Ajoku And Anthony Amadi should Formally Tender Apology Letters to the Family Of Chief Blessing Eberechukwu Tony (BET) Ewelike UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA.

Mr Speaker, we stated in the Disclaimer that wherein Eze Kingsley Ajoku And Anthony Amadi fails to comply with the above SIX DEMANDS within six days from the date of this Disclaimer, that they should be ready to face the consequences of their unholy and criminal actions in Oforola Ancient Kingdom, and that pleas would not be entertained from any quarter thereafter.

The Disclaimer was published in Two leading State Newspapers in their Monday 21/10/2024 edition, namely :

1. STAR POST NEWSPAPER (Page 10).
2. NATIONAL NEWSBREAK NEWSPAPER (Page 7).

It was also circulated on Social Media. And we ensured copies of the Newspaper publications got to Hrh Eze Kingsley Ajoku. He also read our Disclaimer on Social Media.

Sadly, the six demands we made, at the expiration of the demanded six days, are yet to be met.

Mr Speaker, aware that the Imo State Government which reportedly issued the Staff of office as the Traditional Ruler of Oforola Community to Eze Kingsley Ajoku, will not condone such condemnable activities, we the children of Late Chief B. E. T. Ewelike, the Ugochinyere 1 of Oforola, have decided to bring the unbecoming activities of Hrh Eze Kingsley Ajoku to the attention of the House, since he lacks the knowledge of the culture and traditions of Oforola Community, especially as it relates to conferring Chieftaincy Title on persons, for necessary action and recommendation to the State Government. We do not want crisis and instability caused by the actions of Eze Kingsley Ajoku to continue in Oforola Community to continue.

There can only be one and only one UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA in Oforola Ancient Kingdom, Owerri-West Local Government Area Of Imo State.

We so submit.

Signed.

1. Mazi Uchenna Nkemakolam Ewelike ( First Son Of Chief Blessing Eberechukwu Anthony (BET) Ewelike, UGOCHINYERE 1 OF OFOROLA).
2. Mazi Okechukwu Stanley Ewelike.
3. Chief Eberechukwu Tony Ewelike.
4. Mazi Ahamefula Ewelike.

COPIES TO :

1. His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma, Executive Governor Of Imo State.
2. Honourable Commissioner Of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Autonomous Community.
3. Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.
4. Director, Department of State Service, DSS, Imo State.
5. Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command.