A former Chief Judge of Anambra State, who is currently a visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) on Thursday announced the confirmation of the son of the former Eze Nri, Prince Ikenna Onyeso, as the Regent of the Kingdom.

Prof. Umeadi also debunked the rumour circulating in the news media that the Resolutions of the Peace/Reconciliation meeting between Nzemabuo/Orunzenino Traditional Council and the Eze Nri Palace, held on Sunday, January 6, 2019 was tampered with.

A press statement issued by his Personal Assistant, Mr. Vincent Oraeki, said His Lordship was not part of the process that took place immediately after the demise of Eze Nri neither did he in any way get involved with what the son of the late Eze Nri did personally with regard to the traditional authority of the kingdom.

“But overtime, the contentions between the Palace and the other relevant groups became acrimonious and loud. Despite words of caution, things were not getting better as many of them have dug into their trenches and fail so aggrieved,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the grievances came from different angles, some of which was the instance when members of the traditional council began to assert that they have the right to screen those whom the Eze Nri wanted to invest with traditional titles.

Continuing, the statement said: “However, Eze Nri has responded that they demanded from him 30percent of all the monies Eze Nri received as royalties from those conferred with chieftaincy titles. The Eze Nri resisted that move, and after several failed mediations and warning to the council members to desist from their demands, the Eze Nri dissolved the council and constituted another one.

“That action brought up other consequential issues, both legal and traditional. The leadership at the Palace and the sacked group led by Chief Michael Igidigi had many court cases against each other.

“It was at this juncture that a group led by Chief Eric Okafor appealed to Justice Umeadi to chair a mediation meeting between the palace and other contending groups. While Chief Cally Nweke was named the Co-Chairman of the peace effort, Chief Patrick Okonkwo, a retired Director in the State Civil Service, functioned as the Secretary and kept the minutes of the meeting.

“The resolutions, reached at the peace meeting included that: Nzemabuo as properly constituted should go back to the Palace; the door to the Palace to remain open to usher in the Nzemabuo; he (Nzemabuo) should arrange to confirm the appointment of the Regent; and that the Palace should be clean to accommodate Nzemabuo/Ndinze General if it has not been done so.

Other resolutions include that Nzemabuo and the Regent should work together for the smooth running of the Palace; the powers that belong to the Palace e.g. security, land, etc should be properly guided; the Palace should create room for a new Palace Secretary; and that the Oba Lawrence Nwagwu and Ewenata-Ozo P. C. Okonkwo were constituted into a committee to document all the resolutions for implementation such that by the time of Iguaro of 2019 the Nzemabuo would unveil the properly instituted regent to the public.”

Speaking on behalf of Umuezekanmmadu ruling kindred where king Onyesoh hailed from, Oba Maduka Arubalueze advised the Onyesoh family to have good relationship with the 12-man Nzemabuo Traditional Council.

“We all are expecting peace to reign, no vacuum should be allowed. I pray that this year’s Igu Aro will be celebrated together at Eze Nri Palace. Regrettably, it is this same man who allowed himself to be used by unrepentant group that is now purporting to have been installed as a Regent, which in vernacular means Akwudolueze.

“So, at the time His Lordship invited the Regent Prince Ikenna Onyeso alongside other Traditional Rulers to a public event, the Igidigi group had repudiated the Peace process.”

He insisted that the invitation of Prince Ikenna Onyeso as Regent of Nri to a public function is correct as there is no court injunction anyway restraining him in that capacity adding that Prince Ikenna Onyeso is the only Regent of Nri recognised by Nri people until the contrary is shown.

The statement further insisted that Justice Umeadi is not supporting Prince Ikenna Onyeso as Regent so he would in turn support Justice Umeadi, to be the Eze Nri.

“The position of the Eze Nri rotates between known families in Nri. The immediate past Chief Judge is a scion of a family, one of which is expecting a mention, if providence permits, when the selection for the Eze Nri begins. His uncle, Akunnnia Obudegwu Umeadi, was the head of both the Orunzenaino and Nzemabuo under the reign of Eze Nri Nrijiofor II Tabansi Udene. That is double of the group which Chief Michael Igidigi is laying claim to, even when a court of competent jurisdiction has decided that he has no right to such a position.

The repudiation of the peace agreements by their group shows the embarrassment they face as their actions are totally contrary to the Resolutions which they joined to reach,” the statement added.

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