IGBO-EZUE LEADERSHIP CRISIS: SIR FRANCIS OKECHUKWU MOANS ALLEGED ASSAULT, INTIMIDATION
I Never Ordered Anyone To Slap Okechukwu – Princess Efeizomor
By Nicholas Ebegboni
A pioneer member of Igbo-Ezue Association, Ika, the apex umbrella body of the Igbos residing in Ika land, Sir Francis Okechukwu has cried out, according to him, over the injustice and intimidation melted on him, by some persons in the palace of the Obi of Owa kingdom.
Sir Francis Okechukwu in a chat with our correspondent in Ika Weekly Newspaper corporate office along Old Lagos/ Asaba Road, Boji-Boji, Agbor, Delta State, on Wednesday the 20th of November claimed that he was manhandled by some thugs in the palace of the Obi of Owa kingdom.
Narrating his ordeal, Sir Okechukwu said, “On that fateful day, I honoured an invitation from the palace of the Obi of Owa kingdom, when he got there, they called up one Peter Ebubedike as complainant, and myself as the defendant.
“My offence according to them, was that I insulted the Obi of Owa, an accusation which I denied; it was at this point that Peter Ebubedike asked one Buchi Agu to play the recorded voice notes in which they said I insulted HRM, the Obi of Owa.
“When it was being played, it was noisy and I told them that there is so much noise in the recorded voice that I cannot ascertain who the voice belongs to.
“I then asked them to explain to me the content of the voice record, which they explained to me that I said in the voice record that the Obi of Owa does not have the right to appoint an interim executive for Igbo-Ezue Association.”
Continuing, he disclosed that when his accusers said that was the statement he was summoned for, he said re-iterated his stand that the Obi does not have the power to appoint interim executives, as interim executives or appointing people to function as executives, is alien to the constitution of the association.
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According to Sir Okechukwu, as at the time the association was founded, the body visited the Dein of Agbor and the Obi of Owa, they presented a copy of the association’s constitution. And in that constitution, it is by election that someone can occupy any office in the association.
He hinted that trouble started in the association when a five-man electoral committee was constituted with each of the five states in the south eastern states, i.e. Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia presenting a member. He pointed out that the electoral committee recommended that someone from Imo state should be the president, and members of the association from Enugu state knowing that it was their turn to go for presidency protested.
Speaking further, he confirmed that, that was what they were trying to solve, when the issue of interim executives blew up in their faces, and for the fact that, interim or appointment is alien to the constitution of the association, he had to speak up against it, he affirmed.
Sir Okechukwu maintained that, it was immediately after he confirmed that if it’s because he said the Obi does not have the authority to appoint interim committee, as the constitution did not make room for such, was why he was sued at the palace, that he stands by his words, was when his detractors shouted that he has insulted the Obi in the palace.
According to him, Princess Helen Efeizomor who was present during the proceedings, there and then invite some thugs whom she ordered to beat him up, and they attacked him with slaps, adding that after the ugly and unbearable incident, the next thing was that, when he got to his shop, at old Lagos Asaba Road, he discovered that his shop has been sealed up with palm leaves tied at the entrance.
Sir Okechukwu expressed concern that for something like this to happen to someone like him, who have lived in Ika land for 51 years, then it means the common Igbo man is not safe here.
He averred that the slaps were not given just to himself, but to the entire Igbo people.
“We have the right to live and do business here, our relationship with our host communities have been cordial.” he quipped.
In our bid to balance our story, we reach out to Princess Helen on telephone and when Princess Helen Efeizomor was asked to state her own side of the incident, she debunked the claim that she was the one who ordered Sir Francis Okechukwu to be beaten.
According to Princess Helen Efeizomor, speaking on telephone with Ika weekly newspaper reporter said on that day, Owa people were holding a meeting in respect of the security challenges in the kingdom, and people from all walks of life were there.
Continuing, she noted that when the Igbo-Ezue matter was called up in the palace, they were creating a scene which was distracting the security meeting, and at a point, they had to tell them to leave the palace since they do not want to calm down.
Princess Efeizomor claimed that the extent she knew was when the people were asking members of Igbo-Ezue Association to leave the palace, so that they can continue with the security meeting in peace, adding that she was not aware of what happened outside the palace, but noted that there was a side talk of what transpired. According to her, some persons were saying that outside the palace, Sir Francis Okechukwu started insulting the Obi, as she claimed that she cannot be sure of what truly transpired as she was not there.
Speaking further, the Princess stated that the relationship between the Owa people and the Igbo people has been cordial, to the extent that His Majesty provided the piece of land where they are currently building their secretariat.
Meanwhile, she disclosed that it was the Igbo people who reported to the palace that there was leadership crisis in their union. She revealed that those who were aggrieved, demanded that the fund of the association be audited as they accused Sir Francis Okechukwu and others of embezzling the association’s fund. She noted that the aggrieved persons also protested that those from Enugu state have not been allowed to rule.
Speaking further, she said when they presented their grievances to His Majesty, His Majesty asked them to pick five persons from each state to form an interim executive that would broker peace within the association before they can conduct their election or audit their account.
She affirmed that it was the Igbo people themselves who came to the palace to complain, and the palace in its wisdom, tried to restore peace in their midst, so as to enable them organize a peaceful election.
Mr. Buchi, a member of Igboezue Association when reached to state his own side of the story by our correspondent said he was not in position to address the press on the matter, as according to him, he is just a representative of a State, saying that it is only his State President that has the right to speak on the matter
He submitted that it was Sir Francis Okechukwu who reported the matter to the palace, and that it was the same Okechukwu that is saying that the palace does not have the authority to adjudicate on the same matter he instigated at the palace.
According to him for now, Sir Francis Okechukwu has taken the matter to court, adding that he is ready to come before any authority to give account of what transpired. He noted that it was unfortunate that the matter went that far, saying that he does not support violence in any form.
In a chat with our correspondent at his residence in Boji-Boji, Owa, Mr. Peter Ebubedike revealed that problem started in Igboezue Association when the tenure of the immediate past chairman, Dr. Ughamadu expired in March 2024. He affirmed that Ughamadu was asked to step down so that another person will continue, but he refused, claiming that he needs to finish the ongoing secretariat building project.
Mr. Ebubedike noted that he was told that another person can continue and finish the project, but stated that Ughamadu and some of his acquaintances stood their ground. According to Ebubedike, after he finally agreed to step down, they set up an electoral committee which recommended that someone from Imo state should become the next president, but the masses rejected the recommendation saying that someone from Imo state has ruled for six times, Anambra three times, while Abia has had its turn at the presidency, but Enugu and Ebonyi has never been given the opportunity to lead.
He disclosed that when Imo indigenes insisted that they would take the presidency of the association, Enugu, Ebonyi indigenes decided to pull out of Igboezue Association, and for equity sake, Anambra joined them, adding that the president of Anambra is a very peaceful man, and does not like cheating.
Mr. Ebubedike alleged that for the four years of Ughamadu’s tenure, he never gave account one day. He challenged Dr. Ughamadu to present financial account of the association for the four years plus he served as president.
The Igboezue Interim Committee Chairman stated that, it was the same people who took the matter to the Obi of Owa Kingdom, are the same persons saying the Obi of Owa does not have the authority to adjugate on the matter just because it didn’t favour them.
In his words, “His Majesty never interfered in our matter. To show the love he has for ndi Igbo, he donated a piece of land measuring 300 feet by 300 feet for us to build our secretariat.
“When the matter was reported to His Majesty, in his wisdom, he invited both parties, and after both parties had presented their case, to allow peace to reign and in order for the association to be able to continue their building project, His Majesty asked each state to present five representatives each.”
According to Ebubedike, His Majesty invited the 25 persons that the various states presented, and when they came to the palace, he asked them to go out and select among themselves someone they know that can lead them in the interim, so that the association can continue to move forward and for peace to reign.
He emphasized that it was not the Obi of Owa who appointed the person that would lead them, but said it was the Igbos themselves.
For the incident that happened, he pointed out that he was among those who went to the palace on the day in question, but could not tell exactly what really happened as the place was very rowdy.