The controversy surrounding the award of Chieftaincy title to the Chief of Staff to Governor of Imo State, Chief Uche Nwosu has entered another stage with traditional rulers in Mbaise land avoiding the public.
This aspect became known as the countdown to the Wednesday, August 15 date of the Iriji festival, an annual cultural event of the Mbaise clan comprising three LGAs in the Imo State to mark the new yam festival.
There has been uneasy calm in Mbaise land following the reported plot of the traditional rulers to confer a Chieftaincy Title on Nwosu on the 2018 Iriji date. Apart from pressure from the home front warning the monarchs not to honour politicians especially anyone seeking the governorship position of the state, Mbaise people in the diaspora have joined the kick against the Nwosu title in Mbaise land.
Trumpeta discovered that frightened by the outbursts from majority of people of the area amidst allegations of money exchanging hands among some persons for the sake of the award, traditional rulers involved in the organization of the event, especially, the Chairman of the Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Leo Nwokocha have recoiled from public circulation.
Trumpeta reliably gathered that the heat generated by the outbreak of the plan to give the chieftaincy title and unconfirmed claims in various quarters made the monarch at the centre of the storm, Eze Nwokocha to retreat from the public. Aside from making further comments on the matter, Eze Nwokocha no longer makes public statements on the matter.
This latest development concerning the monarchs of Mbaise involved in the organization of the 2018 Iriji Festival was confirmed by the newspaper during a visit to the palace of Eze Nwokocha to ascertain the true position of activities heralding the event scheduled for middle of next week.
Apart from serious security consciousness at the palace at Eziala Nguru, in Aboh Mbaise LGA, Eze Nwokocha appears withdrawn as he declined to make comments on the coming Iriji festival. Despite initial publicity stunt initiated by the organisers led by the Eze to greet this year’s edition, the troubles trailing the award of chieftaincy to Nwosu has ice watered the publicity angle as the monarch is unwilling to speak again on the issue.
A source at the palace revealed that the rising tension forced Nwokocha to go into hiding based on advice. “The Eze has been asked to withdraw from the public and refrain from any reaction, including press interviews for now. His security also beefed up to avoid unwarranted scenes “the source added.
A group of Mbaise people resident outside the country under the banner of Ezurezu Global has also sent a petition against the planned award to traditional rulers in the three LGAs through the chairman, Eze Nwokocha.
This was made known by the leader of the delegation to the Mbaise monarchs, Nze Joe Etoh, who confirmed the submission of the petition adding that the met with the Nwokocha.
According to Etoh, it was a fruitful outing with Nwokocha. He revealed that what brought about Ezurezu Global petition to Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers has been “watered down”.
Trumpeta was further informed that the likelihood of the event holding is remote as some aggrieved persons have also gone to court to stop the event should award of chieftaincy title is included. Already, a statement by the Ezuruezu Mbaise had asked that no central event should but each person can only mark it.
