2 Ebonyi Monarchs at war over jurisdictions

By Uchenna Okeh

Two traditional rulers; HRH Ezeogo Innocent Nworie of Ezekunna community, and his counterpart, HRH Ezeogo Chinedu Nwankwo of Ezzagu Community in Ishielu Local Government area of Ebonyi State were at dagger drum over an overriding control and headship of Eguho “community”. 

The Nations News Nigeria reports that ‘Eguho’ is not an autonomous community, though is part of the 13 villages cohabitated by the people of Ezekunna and Ezzagu communities under the two monarchs.

It was gathered that a 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 authorized 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 was addressed to Ezeogo Chinedu Nwankwo, denied that he never 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 are at the SlaughterHouse 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 a crisis between the two brother communities. This is my 24 years as the traditional ruler of the Ezekunna community and even 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 kinds.

Igwe further called on state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru to intervene and quell the looming crisis by declaring Eguho as an autonomous community.

“In Eguho, Ezzagu and Ezekunna people live interwoven in peace, unity and harmony. Eguho has a 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 kinds live together in the place.