IMO EZESHIP JUDGMENT:IBENYE UGBALA SONS RISK EXCOMMUNICATION IN OKPORO, AS CHIEF PRIEST, OTHERS INSIST ON ROTATING KINGSHIP, SIGN A WARNING NOTICE .

By Onuchukwu Hamilton
A painstaking excursion to stop the Ezeship crisis and brouhaha in Amanator Okporo Autonomous Community, Orlu LGA, Imo State, has last Saturday, been concluded at the ancestral Okporo gathering square called (Afor- ala-Okporo) with a deterrent communique duely signed by the central Okporo Traditional Chief Priest, the three President Generals, the oldest men and the youth leaders of all the Autonomous Communities under Okporo traditional Society such as (the siala Okporo , the Amanator Okporo, the Udogadi Okporo Autonomous Communities.
Please see the attached Communique which is herein published as a public document.
According to grape vines, despite the recent peaceful High Court Judgment that upholds the existing rotating kingship as enshrined, in Amanator Okporo constitution, the Sons of Late HRH Eze Ibenye Ugbala are fingered to have reneged and renewed the tension in the area by plotting to organize the community new yam festival when there is an official order that has reportedly transferred royalty to another village where a Traditional Ruler has constitutionally emerged. This situation which is considered as unusual, may, according to grapevines, compel the three communities in Okporo to disassociate themselves from both the lbenye Ugbala Sons and whoever that fans their embers, as rebels.
On what led to signing the attached Communique mandating Ibenye Ugbala sons to stop further court actions, and embrace the Umuebele village where the new Traditional Ruler has rightfully emerged, the President Generals of the three communities, Hon Emeka Oguaju, Chief Sir John Egeolu and Engr. Chief Nwaugo told newsmen that the communique was subjected to rigorous processes before its signing by the Okporo clan, the apex traditional Chief Priest. ” That as a condition, all the elders, the Traditional Chief Priests, took an excursion into the history of Okporo traditional Society, the Ezeship structures, including when the late Eze Ibenye Ugbala assumed the kingship throne in 1978 through a popularly contested election, the man who started with Eze Ugbala in 1987 and served him as his Palace Secretary for twelve years, is still living as one of the oldest men, and when he came, he narrated to the entire Okporo Communities that there was nothing like an agreed or constitutional hereditary kingship. That just like the two other sister Communities( Isiala and Udogadi) with rotating kingship, Amanator Community never dream of hereditary kingship.
” It was also proofed that prior to the division of Okporo town into three Communities in 2002, till today, the communities have maintained oneness as blood brothers. Their traditional political systems and socio cultural institutions have not changed as they still maintain same cultural ideologies, principles, and identities
Meanwhile, in a recent and unvaccated High Court judgment via a suit No: HOR/35/2025 at Orlu Division, court stated that the plaintiffs have proved their case on a preponderance of evidence and court declared that Amanator Okporo has a Constitution which must be respected and enforced. Court declared that Ibenye Ugbala is not qualified to be presented or issued a staff of office as Eze because he did not participate in the Ezeship election, conducted by Amanator Okporo Town Union. The court restrained the Imo State Government, the Attorney General, Imo State, the Hon.Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from issuing or endorsing the issuance of the staff to Ibenye Ugbala Son or any other person who did not take part in the Ezeship election of Amanator Okporo.

A COMMUNIQUE ON THE AMANATOR OKPORO AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY, EZESHIP MATTERS, SIGNED AT THE SACRED OKPORO ANCESTRAL SQUARE(AFOR -ALA- OKPORO) ON THE 9th OF AUGUST, 2025 AND ISSUED BY THE OKPORO CLAN ELDERS AND THE CHIEF PRIEST OF THE HIGHEST ORACLE CALLED THE (OGWUGWU OKPORO)

1. That the elders, youths, women, Nze title holders, ofor title holders, cabinet chiefs, President Generals, the oracle Chief Priest of the entire communities( Isiala Okporo, Amanator Okporo & Udogadi Okporo Communities) in Okporo traditional Society are happy with the High Court Judgment delivered in Orlu Division by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Nwagboso, on the 26th day of June, 2025 in suit No: HOR/35/2025.
2. That we are mandating, our Children especially the sons of Late HRH Eze Ibenye Ugbala to reject any evil temptation to appeal against the court judgment, nor any further ligation concerning the Traditional throne of Amanator Community. If the Sons of Late HRH Eze Ibenye Ugbala fails to Obey this advise from Okporo Clan elders , they shall face a sanction with its excommunication disciplinary measures.
3. That in the last Four years, Okporo Communities, were under tension and fear due to security challenges. Many illustrious sons and daughters of Okporo Communities were killed with too many houses and properties set ablaze as a result of crisis. Many of our brothers, including visitors and potential investors eloped from the Okporo Communities for the fear of death. Therefore, we are mandating Ibenye Ugbala Sons never to beat the drums crisis and war again in Okporo, rather, they should immediately embrace the constitutionally elected Traditional Ruler from Umuebele village as the authentic king of Amanator Okporo Community because he has our total support.
4. That the Sons of Late HRH Eze Ibenye Ugbala should immediately erase the idea of organizing the community first new yam festival. It is the traditional right of the Traditional Ruler, the chief Priest, the Elders, the ofor title holders, to organize the new yam festival. Any body or persons who violets this existing traditional order, shall be sanctioned and excommunicated in accordance with the norms as rebels.
5. That he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The Okporo Communities’ traditional thrones has been by election and rotation. The Ibenye Ugbala family has produced one traditional ruler with the support of the community. He emerged as the traditional ruler in 1978 through a well contest election. That, his son late VNC, Nnamdi Ibenye Ugbala did not get his approval from the community. It was Governor Ohakim that tried to soil the community custom but Okporo people demonstrated maturity by giving peace a chance. That when the late VNC Ibenye Ugbala died, the people of Amanator Okporo Community used the constitution of Amanator, to release his burial rights to his children. Therefore Ugbala sons have directly benefited from the same constitution that maintains that Ezeship is on rotation.
   6.THIS COMMUNIQUE IS SIGNED BY;