Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The traditional ruler of Ezekunna community, HRH Ezeogo Innocent Nworie; and his counterpart of Ezzagu Community, HRH Ezeogo Chinedu Nwankwo, in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State; were at daggers drawn over an overriding control and headship of Eguho “community.”
Though not an autonomous community, Eguho comprises of 13 villages cohabitated by the people of Ezekunna and Ezzagu communities under the two monarchs.
However, all efforts for Eguho to gain autonomous status out of the two communities failed during the administration of the first civilian governor of the state, Dr Sam Egwu.
Meanwhile, crisis ensued when Ezeogo Chinedu Nwankwo of Ezzagu community stormed Eguho to conduct the election of the home branch executives, claiming that his Ezekunna counterpart authorised him to oversee the affairs of the place.
But Ezeogo Nworie in his swift reaction through a letter tagged “Call to Order,” dated October 10, 2024 and addressed to Ezeogo Chinedu Nwankwo, denied that he ever delegated his counterpart to act, interfere and or oversee any activities going on in Eguho.
The letter reads in part: “I write to advise that you stay off from every territorial encroachment within my community Ezekunna. I want to state categorically that henceforth I don’t want you to interfere on issues within my community which Eguho is inclusive.”
“The boundaries of Ezekunna and Ezzagu is at the Slaughter House down to Aguobodo and Obegu Isu. I wish to state categorically clear that I am physically fit and sound to discharge my duties as the traditional ruler of Ezekunna community and have never in any way abdicated my duties nor delegated my functions to you as claimed.”
“I therefore advise that you avoid anything that’s capable of causing crisis between the two brother-communities. This is my 24 years as the traditional ruler of Ezekunna community and even with your predecessor, late Linus Enyiukpor, Ezechima 1 of Ezzagu, we have never had any issues with our territories.”
The National President of Eguho Development Union, Mr Innocent Igwe, noted that the interference of the traditional rulers was capable of causing crisis between the two kindreds.
Igwe further called on the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, to intervene and quell the looming crisis by declaring Eguho as an autonomous community.
“Eguho has 13 villages and highest voting strength in the old Ezzagu zone. In Eguho, Ezzagu and Ezekunna people live interwoven in peace, unity and harmony. Eguho has large land mass. The only solution to this bickering is to make Eguho an autonomous community, the National President said.
In a letter written by Eguho Indigenous Lawyers through Barrister Hans Offia Chambers to the two warring monarchs, they maintained that none of them has exclusive jurisdiction in the affairs of Eguho since both kindreds live together in the place.
