Indigenes Of Mbutu-Nwaorie Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area Of Imo State stormed the Imo State House Of Assembly complex on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024, to present Engr Thankgod Amanze as their Eze-elect (Ubaha II) to the Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie, vowing to resist and oppose the alleged imposition of Hon Anthony Emeh as Eze-elect, who had earlier been presented to the lawmaker, against the wish of the people.
The indigenes led by the son of the late Traditional Ruler of the community, Prince Oscar Obinna And Chief Anthony Ezinna Oparaocha, who claims to be the President General of Mbutu-Nwaorie Town Union, made the vow as they stated their version of what transpired in the community, during the process of selecting and electing their Eze-elect.
According to Chief Anthony Ezinna Oparaocha, Mbutu-Nwaorie Autonomous Community comprises of Two towns (Ihiteoha and Ubahi) and Eight villages, and that he is the President General as against One Sir Tony Iwuoha, who is reported to be the officially recognized person. He further stated that, “Our late Traditional Ruler was from Ubahi town, so it is the turn of Ihiteoha town to produce the next Traditional Ruler, hence we collectively endorsed Engr Thankgod Amanze as our Eze-elect, after going through the rigorous processes”.
Chief Anthony Oparaocha also said he constituted the standing Committee that screened the contenders for the Ezeship stool, but unfortunately, was hijacked from him by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Okechukwu Jumbo, who was supposed to be neutral.
He said, “To find solution, a meeting was called on the 26th of December 2023, but it was disrupted. However, I used the Police to arrest the other faction, since they created problems, in an attempt to violate the Constitution, on the 29th of December 2023. But the Imo State Commissioner of Police waded into the matter and ordered that both factions should maintain peace”.
Still narrating what led Mbutu-Nwaorie Community to have two Eze-elects, Chief Anthony Ezinna Oparaocha stated that “when the other faction brought out Hon Anthony Emeh in the night, we also brought out our own Eze-elect, in the person of Engr Thankgod Amanze. However, Hrh Eze Dr D. O . Nwigwe, the Traditional Ruler of Mbutu Ancient Kingdom, who is also the oldest Monarch, intervened by directing that the electoral process of electing our Eze should be by open ballot. This directive was followed, and Engr Thankgod Amanze emerged with 182 votes, as against Hon Anthony Emeh, who got 12 votes. This Electoral Process was covered and aired by NTA, which also covered when Elder Ejereonwu (now late) installed Engr Thankgod Amanze as the Eze-elect”.
Throwing more light, Prince Oscar Obinna stated that after Engr Thank God Amanze emerged Eze-elect, the four communities in Mbutu, namely : Mbutu-Nwaorie, Mbutu-Ukwu, Mbutu Nwenkwo and Mbutu Ancient Kingdom came together and formally recognized him as the Eze-elect. He further stated that they have presented him to the Department Of State Security,DSS, Ministry of Local Government and to the Council headquarters in Aboh Mbaise.
On the issue of Educational Qualification of Engr Thankgod Amanze, Chief Anthony Oparaocha stated that their Constitution only recognizes a minimum qualification of Standard-Six.
The Eze-elect, Engr Thankgod Amanze, has been accused of falsifying his age, from his year of birth of 1980 to 1988, which he denied, but rather described himself as a peacemaker who desires to bring development and growth to his community. “As a philanthropist, I have drilled boreholes for my community, given out vulcanizing machines, cash empowerment and distributed food palliatives to my people, to ameliorate the effects of the biting economy. Let the will of God be done”.
Other Members of the delegation who spoke to lend credence to the choice of Engr Thankgod Amanze as Eze-elect included :
- Nze Monday Amarachi Iwuebi (Oke Nze).
- Chief Benjamin Ashimole, Ogbogu of Mbutu-Nwaorie.
- Chief Jumbo Anthony Opara, Ezi Aha Ka Ego of Mbutu-Nwaorie.
- Comrade Ikenna Ernest, Youth Chairman.
- Chief Patrick Oluikpe, Traditional Prime Minister.
Receiving the Delegation, the very noble and straightforward Aboh Mbaise lawmaker, who is also the Minority leader of the Imo State House Of Assembly, Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie expressed that he would always support the right choice, explaining that he has no preferred candidate for the Ezeship stool. In his words, the vibrant legislator said, “My office does not give Staff Of Office. However, when the approval comes, one can have a say. My doors are always open. I received the other group two weeks ago and listened to them, just as I have listened to you. I want peace. The Ezeship stool does not worth the blood of anybody to be spilled. For me, let the will of God be done. The implication of Ezeship tussle in communities is that some of these communities are bedeviled by Power seekers, and this slows down the pace of community projects and development. Ezeship is a social-cultural conflict over the values, power and claim to secure status supremacy, whose aim is often to neutralize, injure or outright elimination of the opponents. These have torn communities apart. Please, this should be avoided. So I will urge you to maintain the peace and keep following the process, and when the chips are down, God, in his infinite mercy, will decide”.
