“Patriotism,” Aslai Stevenson said, “is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” Apply this to the life, character and conduct of Prince Alex Mbata and you are hundred percent right. Prince Mbata is a patriot wholely dedicated to the good of humanity. He is amongst the very best of contemporary young men whom God blessed with wealth, wisdom and sense to seek that which is good and noble. He lives it as he preaches it.
I dare say he is unblemished when it comes to his community Ngwoma Obube in Owerri North. Those who oppose him on dint of personality cannot deny the force of his principles and philosophy in community development and human capacity empowerment.
Indeed, many well meaning sons and daughters from Ngwoma Obube and beyond are in unity in the condemnations of the hurriedly hired and inspired onslaught against this gentleman and community developer by evil minded chaps purporting to write on behalf of the Ngwoma Obube community. The bone of contention is the traditional stool in the community. The history of the stool is of public knowledge. The right to the stool like in every community is predicated on duty. It is the people’s stool held in trust by the Onukogu family over the time. When the stool wobbled under the immediate past Eze, the people complained. While it is said to be the right of the Onukogu family to produce the Eze like before, it is more of the right of the people to decide if they were well led by the last occupant of the stool or if the family has anyone to right the low and uninspiring leadership the last Eze provided. Again, it is the right of the people to decide if they want the misrule to continue. The people made a decision to say NO to the continued absentee rulership of the Onukogu family. The family is not the only one in Owerri North to have enjoyed a hereditary Ezeship. However, they are the first and only one to mess the privilege up by absent mindedly thinking that the Ngwoma Obube people can take every “shit” thrown up to the people. It is on record that the late Eze Dr Andrew Onukogu was NEVER THERE for the people. He was more an Eze in exile. He hardly held courts nor attended to the needs of the community. The Owerri North Council of Ezes can bear witness on how many times he attended their meetings or functions. This was why in welcoming his body at the Council headquarters, the Ezes said since he(Eze Andrew Onukogu) refused to come to the council in life, death had brought him there! Today, the family exported a man who had lived his life in America without any form of connection with the community. A man at 64 years who doesn’t speak or understand Igbo language or the tradition, customs, norms and values of the community. A 64 year old man who just got married two years ago! The people in unionism, decided to change the system in a lawful manner following all due processes. So why single Prince Alex Mbata for fights and slander? By the way, is he not entitled to his views as a son of the soil? Why would few masked people spin strange stories against him in spite of the glaring fact that as far as Ngwoma community is concerned today, he is among the greatest stakeholders and as a result, the peace, love, unity and progress are of great cardinal interest to him.
The reason the people chose for a change of system is simply based on productivity. Every dynasty should always be conscious of her future. Indeed, at each time, there should be people that will be capable of standing in whenever there is a gap like the royal dynasty of Oparaocha-Ekwe in Ulakwo, Obi Emekuku and Egbukole in Egbu. This unfortunately cannot be said of the Onukogu family. No one is opposed to the family for the fun of it. The Ngwoma community wants to be like other communities with performing traditional rulers who are always present in their communities.
Now, think of it, Prince Alex Mbata is a son of Ngwoma Obube. He is a critical stakeholder in the community I repeat. There is no gain saying the fact in contemporary time, no singular individual has devoted his personal earnings towards the development of the community like him. The records of his selfishness services abound and are a “shut up “ to his traducers. Those urchins who sponsor stupid campaigns against him behind the curtain should be bold enough to unmask themselves. They should rather tell the world themselves what they have done for the Ngwoma community. All Nwgoma people are saying is no more Eze in exile or Eze by proxy.
Prince Alex Mbata owes no one apologies for his stand on the Ezeship issues in his community because it is his undeniable right neither does he begrudge anyone for their own stand. His late father, Chief Geoffrey Mbata, Ugwudike of Ngwoma Obube served the community selflessly with dignity, pride, wisdom, integrity and devotion. His sons followed in his footsteps. His other son, Hon Emma Mbata was the immediate past President -General of the community. A position he held with the best finesse of character and capacity, opening the community for developments. Indeed, the Mbata family is a pride of Ngwoma Obube community in every honourable mention.
Let those low lived and mean spirited characters who have not done anything good for the community shut up. They should hide their faces in shameful muds. They can best be described as “eaters in crisis” out to hang on straw in their endless drowns.
Repeat, Prince Alex Mbata owes no one apologies for being who is and what God has made him to be. He is a divine child whose blessed boundaries can never be defined or limited by the whims and desires of haters of peace, unity and progress.
