His Imperial Majesty (Eze) Isaac Ajuonu Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba, as he is widely known, is one of the foremost traditional rulers in Abia State.
He ascended the throne of his forefathers about 46 years ago at the age of 40 and has been the chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Ndi Eze during the tenure of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu as the governor of Abia State.
After occupying the topmost for many years, he was replaced and within the short spell of his replacement, two other traditional rulers had occupied the position before the present chairman, Eze Eberechi Dick.
Oriental News gathered that since the appointment of Eze Dick as the chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council over a year ago, there has been no love lost between him and his former Chairman, Eze Ikonne, ostensibly as a result of the former’s perceived overbearing influence of the latter.
This fratricidal royal battle snowballed and got to its crescendo when according to Eze Ikonne he gave a chieftaincy title to President Mohammadu Buhari when he visited his palace in Aba during electioneering as Ogbuagu 1 of Aba, saying that he had remained a subject of ridicule by Eze Dick, who questioned his authority to give such chieftaincy title when the government of Chief Theodore Orji believed it went to the “wrong” person.
But Eze Ikonne fired back, saying as a foremost traditional ruler, he reserved the right to give any politician that visited his palace, irrespective of political leaning, any chieftaincy title, saying that he was not supposed to be partisan as a traditional ruler. He warned of the consequences of such attacks on his person.
When people of the state thought the royal battle was over, it erupted again in a magnified proportion.
Eze Ikonne told Oriental News that on May 6, he as chairman of Ukwa/Ngwa traditional rulers council led other members to pay a ‘thank you’ visit to ex-Gov Theodore Orji for the support he gave their son, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to emerge the governor of the state.
He said that contrary to all manner of threats and pressure put on his members by Eze Dick not to embark on the visit they went and the former governor received them with open hands and expressed happiness over the visit.
“Three days after that visit, Eze Dick went on air to castigate me, reminiscent of what they did when I gave chieftaincy title to President Buhari, this time around saying I was trying to take over his position, that I had not done anything for the state, that I came to reap where I did not sow.
“If what they mean by not doing anything for the state which I played active role in its creation was not following politicians about, they should go ahead and be degrading themselves, I’m not a politician and cannot join them in that mad rush to carry bags for politicians for pittance as the politicians know those who genuinely worked for them without waiting to be rewarded,” Eze Ikonne said.
Justifying the visit, Eze Ikonne said: “Apart from being the foremost tradition ruler in this part of the state having been on the thrown for the past 46 years, I think as a trustee of Abia State creation movement and former chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council; I was eminently qualified to pay the governor such visit. “Since Eze Dick became the chairman, he has made attacking me for no just cause his pre-occupation and has left his responsibilities to the point that traditional rulers have not had meeting up to five times since he became the chairman.
“If Eze Dick feels he is so important as a traditional ruler, then he should let us know why as the so-called chairman of Abia Traditional Rulers’ Council, former President Goodluck did not pay visit to his palace when he visited Abia State on two occasions that year”.
He appealed to state government to call Eze Dick to order “because it is shameful the way he is debasing the traditional institution in the name of pulling me down”.
As this warning appeared to be like pouring water at the back of a duck, the royal battle took a new scale as one of the sons of Eze Ikonne, Prince Ahamefula Ikonne, who was piqued by what he described as unwarranted attacks on his father by the chairman of the state council of traditional rulers, warned that the attacks should be stopped forthwith.
Recalling the alleged unending attacks which he said his father had received from the chairman of the rulers council, Prince Ahamefula said it beats his imagination that in all of the verbal attacks on his father by Eze Dick, using the state owned radio station; the state government had never called the monarch to order.
He said for the avoidance of doubt Eze Ikonne became the chairman of Ukwa/Ngwa traditional rulers’ council ever before Eze Dick was coronated, stressing that his father was presented to Aba na Ohazu people 46 years ago as their traditional ruler and received his staff of office from the then old Imo State government in 1975.
“Eze Ikonne is a founding father of Abia State, so he will be belittling himself if seen to be dragging leadership of traditional rulers in the state with Eze Dick who he refers to as his son in all fronts.
“He laid claim that my father insults the traditional institution, but it on record that he Eze Dick has turned the traditional institution in the state into a political party which is not what a royal father should do. This is the only chairman that wants to control the happenings in other traditional rulers’ domains because of his personal interest,” Prince Ahamefula said.
The young Ikonne said he attended Eze Dick’s coronation with his father, attesting to the fact that Eze Ikonne contributed immensely to his emergence as a traditional ruler during the tenure of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu administration and wondered why he should be insulting the older monarch.
“In view of his recent attacks on my father, including publications in some national dailies, I am strongly warning him never again to insult my father or use him to shore up his political profile since he has turned himself into a politician before he faces the wrath of the land. His insults are becoming unbearable and we will no longer condone it”, Ahamefula warned.
When contacted, the Chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Eze Dick said that the problem he had with Eze Ikonne was official and not personal.
He said his grouse with the former chairman of the council was that he refused to understand that he was no longer in office, stressing that it was wrong for the octogenarian monarch to engage in acts that ordinarily should be reserved for the incumbent chairman of the council.
His words: “I do not have any personal problem against Eze Ikonne, the problem I have with him is official. He is no longer the chairman of the council, it is wrong for him to do a thing that should be done by the chairman and that is where I say no. Outside that, I have nothing against him.”
Eze Dick said for peace to reign in the state he decided not to have further altercations with Eze Ikonne, insisting that he has nothing personal against him.
He, however, stressed that it should be known that he (Dick) is the chairman of the state council of traditional rulers and the office should be accorded the respect it deserves.
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