By: Felix Ikpotor
There could be a breakdown of law and order in Apara Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government area of Rivers State over the sudden removal of the paramount ruler of the community, HM, Eze Gift Eziwhou Johnson, by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Members of the community web gathered are not happy with the governor’s action.
Eze Johnson’s removal was contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Chietaincy Affairs, John Bazia and published in a local tabloid in Port Harcourt.
Eze Johnson was enthroned by the immediate past governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the Eze Oha Apara IV, after the death of the former paramount ruler, Eze S.N Wali.
He got his certificate, recognition and staff of office on May 27, last year, from Amaechi.
But, the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs in a statement said “Following a petition from the people of Apara against you (Eze Johnson) your certificate of recognition is hereby withdrawn.”
Meanwhile, we learn Wike has shifted his recognition to one of his alleged associates, Chike Worlu-Wodo, as the new paramount ruler of the community.
While reacting to the development at the palace of Eze Oha Apara IV in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor, the people of Apara Kingdom called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene in the alleged injustice.
Briefing journalists on the matter, the Chairman of Ekinigbo Clan Town Council, Chinedu Johnson Amadi, who was accompanied by the Secretary of the clan’s Council of Chiefs, Eze Allwell Ome Egeonu; Chairman of Ekinigbo Owhor Holders, Elder Samuel Egeonu and Chairman of Ekinigbo Opinion Leaders, Ambassador John Okocha said that they were troubled by Wike’s vexatious action purporting to have withdrawn the king’s official government recognition.
They stated that, “Eze Oha Apara, Eze Gift Eziwho Johnson, was properly selected by the Rumukesiorlu Royal Kingmakers, after due consultations. He was properly coronated and duly presented to the public, in line with the established customs and tradition of Ikwerre people, for the purpose of installing a bona fide occupant of an ancestral stool.
“The purported cancellation and withdrawal of government recognition from Eze Gift Eziwho Johnson by Governor Wike were maliciously conceived to ridicule our ancestral stool, embarrass the incumbent and cause anarchy in Apara Kingdom. The action was not only taken in grave error, it is vindictive and vexatious against due process, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
They went further to say that, “We wish to state categorically that the Ekinigbo Clan Town Council will not allow anybody to play vindictive politics with our highly-revered ancestral stool, as Governor Wike appears to be doing, by claiming to have ‘selected’ and ‘installed’ Mr. Chike Worlu-Wodo as ‘Eze Oha Apara.’
