Opuoma is one of the autonomous communities in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo state. An oil producing community hosting Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC, well ’22’ and also pipeline access road community, it is bounded in the East by Nkwesi Ancient Kingdom, Oguta LGA, West Anieze, Delta State, North Obiakpu autonomous community, and South Egbema, Rivers State.
It is rather unfortunate that since the creation of this oil rich community called Opuoma in 2002, it has not known peace. Each successive government pays deaf ears to the ezeship crisis ravaging there, even as it is one of the autonomous communities that made the state oil bearing one.
Another surprising issue here is the fact that Opuoma comes from among the area, their ‘Ezeship Stool’ is not contestable, rather hereditary, but theirs has become an object of litigation, thus beating people’s imagination.
For instance in communities like Mgbele, Nkwesi Ancient Kingdom, Nnebukwu, Orsu-Obodo, Oguta town and Eziorsu, all in Oguta LGA, to mention but a few, the institutions are so structured that nobody ever challenges the establishment.
The unstable situation leads to mysterious deaths, violence insecurity, rather than once peace, for which the community was known. Whether the government expects it to escalate to the level of mass, killings, or intra communal clash, as was the case of Izombe clan, Agwa, Akabor, etc, Oguta LGA, 2004-2012
Between 2002 and the present day, the community has allegedly produced three dead Ezes; Udenna Omu, Fidelis Nwagiriga and Friday Eso Ikenyiri. Despite the mysterious deaths and subsequent contentions, the government cares less about the people’s yearnings for peace, security and prosperity.
Currently laying claim to the ezeship stool is a retired bursary staff of the Imo state University one chief Wilfred Anele Coleman Uwakwe. In an exclusive interview with the ‘News Echo’ newspaper, the claimant to the royal throne introduced himself as the Eze Igwe of Opuoma Autonomous community.
The alleged Eze maintained that he is the rightful traditional ruler of the oil rich and peaceful kingdom, that he enjoys the love and support of his subjects, and further tendered a ‘certificate of recognition’ , as the traditional ruler, dated 26th, July, 2013. The said document was signed by the then Secretary to the then state government, Professor Anthony Gozie Anwuka, under the leadership of Governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha.
However, when mentioned was made of the Acting Paramount ruler of the same autonomy Prince Kingsley F. E Ikenyiri , who supposedly inherited the throne following his father’s death, as it is their culture and tradition, brushing aside the issue, he stated that, he never contested the title with his father. “Ajie F. E Ikenyiri, (Eze Igwe Nnowu), who was rather a witness to one Hon Tony Osita (Eze-elect) with whom he contested the title and won.”
Substantiating his claim, the Eze revealed that, he had been gazetted as a recognized member of Imo council of traditional rulers, vowed to have been earning his allowances, from state government through cheque, till now, salary payments are effected via electronic transfer.
The Eze Igwe boasted that he had no contention for the royal seat with the late Eze Igwe Nnowu, who he described as a mere priest of ‘Osere’, a deity in the community. The claimant further boasted that ezeship matter in Opuoma autonomous community, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, is a foregone conclusion.
Another claimant to the throne, Prince Kingsley Friday Eso Ikenyiri, the Acting Paramount Ruler of the same Stool, as well as the Acting head, Ekperinnwa Royal House of Opuoma, has a different story. Prince Ikenyiri said that his royal house is the founder of of the Opuoma and the first sellers in the area.
He explained that even before they had their autonomy in 2002, his father late Friday Eso Ikenyiri, was already the head of all the clans in Opuoma. “Surprisingly, while the autonomy creation was in process, as well as my father’s emergence, as the pioneer traditional ruler- the Ezenwadiala, Chief Wilfred Anele Coleman Uwakwe, fronted his causin then the LGA chairman, Celestine Uwakwe (now late), to disrupt the coronation ceremony with hoodlums and fake mobile policemen. He diverted the staff of office to one Udenna Omu, from Umu-Iyasara-Atta town on 8th March, 2002.
According to the Acting Paramount ruler, the action of Chief WAC Uwakwe unleashed terror and mayhem, resulting to mysterious deaths of those, who fought against the emergence of his father, as the pioneer traditional ruler of the community.
As a result of the strange deaths, the community appealed to my father to accept the staff of office and forgive the offenders. He observed the desecration of the land, by the actions of Udenna Omu led by Chief Uwakwe and group, and demanded consecration of the land and atonement of the gods for abomination of Udenna Omu and Co, via due process, before he could accept the Staff of Office.
However, as the community delayed in the process to meet up with his father’s precondition, the usurper of the throne, Udenna Omu, died. The staff was again moved to one Fidelis Nwagiriga also of Umu-Iyasara-Atta, but he died shortly after.
“At the death of the second usurper, the community persuaded my father to accept the Stool, which they knew was his birth right, and save them from menace.
Chief Uwakwe having left service then, renewed his mischiefs and manipulations against my father’s emergence, as the Eze Igwe Nnowu of Opuoma autonomous community”, he narrated.
However interventions from higher authorities, – Directorate of State Security Services DSSS, Speaker Imo state House of Assembly IMSHA, the Atorney General AG, of Imo state, the Commissioner of Police CP, Imo State command, among others prevailed against him.
He said the efforts of those security agencies led to smooth and successful transfer of the staff of office to his father. The ceremony was fully and finally executed and on 5th March 5,2014, his father late Friday Eso Ikemyiri, was crowned, before the elders and entire community of Opuoma, as the ‘Ezenwadiala ‘ and Paramount Ruler on acting capacity though, in lleiu of Government Certificate of Recognition.
The crown Prince narrated that on his father’s death, according the Opuoma traditional institution, the leadership naturally fell on him as the first son, who of course had been holding brief for him, while a life, because health challenges.
Having passed on, I assumed office as the Ezenwadiala 11, and Paramount Ruler, though on casting capacity.
On why he is still on a to g capacity, the aggrieved prince being that the ezeship of his community is hereditary, he blamed the ugly situation on the inability to bury his late father yet, due to the communal strife in the community instigated, orchestrated and funded by the troublesome Chief Uwakwe.
Referring to the Ezeship claim by chief Uwakwe and subsequent contention, he blamed the ‘Ahiajioku Panel’ set up by the governor, Chief Rochas Anayo Okorocha, who smuggled him into the race, to mean that he contested for the office, when the Ezeship of my people is not contestable, but hereditary.
“Niether my community nor my father knew about the panel and its activities, except chief W. A. C. Uwakwe and his brother – in law Tony Osita Uzokwe. On getting to know about it, he petitioned the state government against his exclusion and entire community from the exercise “.
Crown Prince Ikenyiri further submitted that, although the state government did not reply directly to his father’s petition, the effect was that the Ahiajioku Panel did not announce the result of the Opuoma Autonomous Community.
He said that the desperate Uwakwe ran to now moribound Nigerian Weekend Hotline (weekly newspaper) 19-21 July 2023, to declare himself winner of the Opuoma Autonomous Community ezeship contest via the Ahiajioku Panel.
As nothing appeared to be forthcoming for the panel, his cousin, ex-NDDC staff Kevin Uwakwe went quickly to the Imo FM 94. Radio station, Owerri, about late November, between 8. 00-9.00pm, to thank Governor Rochas Okorocha, for making his cousin W. A. C. Uwakwe, the Eze of Opuoma autonomous community.
The Acting Paramount ruler further deposed that the man he described as ‘fake Eze elect’, alters his names at will, to suit his whims and caprices,, that he answers (1.) Wilfred Anele Coleman Uwakwe.
(2.) HRH Eze Ogbuagu Philip Anenne Uwakwe, (3) .Eze Willie Anele C. Uwakwe, and (4) Wilfred Anele Chinonye Uwakwe, to list but a few.
He avarred that the ‘Eze elect’ of Opuoma, he adorns himself with, is totally fake, ineffective and of no effect, that he has never been the traditional ruler of Opuoma autonomous, and will never be, for he (Chief Wilfred A. C. Uwakwe) is in no way qualified for it.
In his submission, he urged the state government to conduct a thorough investigation to his claim, recognize him, (Crown Prince Friday Eso Ikenyiri ), as the substantive Paramount Ruler of Opuoma Autonomous Community:
The Crown Prince also appealed to the government to stop the man W. A. C Uwakwe from terrorizing the community, against the backdrop that, it has something to do with public morality and ethical principles. He urged especially the state government to withdraw Chief Uwakwe’s fake ” Ezeship Certificate of Recognition’ and bogus Staff of Office, including the ones bearing his name as the Paramount Ruler of Opuoma Autonomous community, with different names, titles and dates, as well as the ones also bearing his name as ‘Eze Elect’ of Opuoma Autonomous Community.
“Government should stop him too from parading himself as the ‘Eze, or’ Eze Elect’ of Opuoma, for that amounts to desecration of our land, and should go ahead to prosecute him for forgery and impersonation, to serve as deterrent to other like minds”, he submitted.
He wants the Federal and state governments, security agencies, other high quarters inclusive, to stop Chief Uwakwe’s ally Ethelbert Ojiaku from illegal sand dredging and sales, currently going on day and night in his community.
“The Federal government intervened in the illegalities last year, through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Abuja, and he stopped, but has now commenced in full swing the same illegalities.
The reasons government should not shy away from this matter stem from the economic relevance of the community, possibility of imminent intra and inter communal clashes. Oil, and Communication companies (MTN), operating there are in danger, occasioned the tensed situation.
“Government should dissuade the Mobile Telephone Nigeria MTN, from recognizing Chief Uwakwe as the traditional ruler, nor giving him royalties and rights due to the community, instead let the present administration keep custody of everything, pending the final resolution of the ezeship tussle.
The urgency of the situation can also be determined by several previous publications about the seemingly violence alikely to errupt from the current stalemate. For example, the Verbatim magazine International, December 16, 2013, wrote on it, with the caption ‘Opuoma Ezeship tussle’ – – ‘Desperate attempt at trying to usurp the Ezeship Stool from the constituted owner, in Opuoma Autonomous community in Ohaji/Egbema, Imo state raises tension.’
Below are several copies of documents from both claimants. (1) Certificate of recognition by Imo state government from Chief Wilfred Uwakwe. ( 2) Imo state official gazette, which made him the Eze, published in Owerri dated 8th May, 2019. (3) Govt white paper which indicted Chief Uwakwe of fraud while in the Imo state University, as a bursary staff – from 2004-2009, (4) Written statement on oath by Chief Ueakwe in the Opuoma Ezeship case in the high Court of Imo state.
Nigeria, Oguta Judicial division, Suit no HOG/35/2013.
(5.) Letter of misrepresentation of Chief W. A. C. Uwakwe as the Eze Igwe of Opuoma Autonomous Community, by the solicitors to the members of Ekperinwa Royal family, Obaye-Ekine & co, dated 22/12/2015., among others.
Others include (6) Chief W. A. C Uwakwe’s response to the petitions against him and others by Prince Kingsley F. E Ikenyiri, to the Jon Speaker, Imo state House of Assembly, dated 9/2/2017. (7.) Prince Kingsley F. E. Ikenyiri’s counter response to the response of Chief W. A. C. Ueakwe to the Rt Hon Speaker, Imos State House of Assembly. (8) Court’s stuck out order on Opuoma Ezeship case, in suit no HOG/35/2013, dated Monday 2nd July, 2018 and finally a letter of acknowledgement from the federal Works and Housing, Abuja, to Prince Kingsley Ikenyiri, – the Acting Ezenwadiala11 of Opuoma, on the Continuous illegal sand dredging and illegal sales of Umu-Iyasara Atta’s communal sands, valued at billions of naira dated 1/6/2020, among others.
A stitch in time saves nine!
