● Says Frank Ojiako,Okezie Akwiwu & Co, are charlatans,blackmailers
The people of Ogwuaga Autonomous Community in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State have reaffirmed their implicit confidence in the leadership and Ezeship of HRH, Duru Oshimiri (III),Eze Obinna Akwiwu, Dim Ohamadike II.The community also described all those sponsoring media propaganda against Eze Obinna Akwiwu as “charlatans and a selfish gang whose stock-in-trade is patent falsehood, blackmail, and self-serving inclinations”.
This is even as documents gathered from reliable sources confirmed that Chief Emmanuel Chikere Akwiwu,a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was the head of the Akwiwu dynasty and father of the monarch and Okezie (whom the renegades and
fifth columnists in Ogwuaga-Abba community are using for their despicable objective of installing their malleable tool), had in his lifetime, literally denounced Okezie’s “selfish” and evil habit of seeking undue sympathy by claiming to be an “unwanted child.”
According to Nze Morgan Chikezie, a leader from the community, Eze Obinna Akwiwu is neither reckless nor self-serving and has always disallowed himself from promoting the vested interest of some particular persons who erroneously believe that they are the alpha and omega in Ogwuaga-Abba community, and must, therefore, have their way whenever they want. “His community social responsibility actions on electricity, water, employment, education, mentorship and scholarships, ICT training, food and shelter, business startups, trading and elderly monthly financial support transcend generations, and had been on for many years before such things became fashionable, and certainly before most of the present crop of the Ojiako’s nominally came on board in community affairs. None, I repeat,none, can stand his record. Whatever Okezie is doing, it is still boiling in Akwiwu’s pot, and no Ojiako can claim credit for his upbringing and training,” Chikezie stated.
He further posited that “in the 1980s when Eze Obinna Akwiwu was merely in his 20s, he was already financing medical outreaches. My dad who died at over 90+ said it, and I met some myself as I was growing up, and to date. He gave free education to all primary school pupils at the State Primary School Ogwuaga(1993-99), subsidizing the teachers salaries”. Chikezie averred that “the present generation of parents studying there then were beneficiaries, but who would blame them now for not knowing the financial arrangement for their education at that time. He has been sponsoring the St. Stephen’s Nursery School largely single-handedly for decades, including financing the school feeding programme decades well ahead of the Federal Governments similar programme.”
He asserted that Eze Obinna Akwiwu is the head of the Akwiwu family, while Okezie Akwiwu is 13 years his junior and the sixth child after Eze Obinna in the biological order of birth in Chief EC Akwiwu’s family. “it is amazing that some illiterates in Igbo culture and tradition among the protagonists are claiming that the headship of the family resides in an imposter who claims to be the eldest surviving son of Chief S.O. Akwiwu, Mr. Geoffrey Akwiwu (who is neither an Ogwuaga-Abba man nor an Abba Chief and,therefore, does not deserve being addressed as such).Unlike him,our new Eze is the eldest son of Chief S.O. Akwiwu’s eldest son, Chief E.C. Akwiwu, both having successively survived their fathers (Opara Ukwu)”.
“Is it so in the families of these ochoganokos/ori na crisis/ ‘Okezie ATM members club’/ the traducers of the Akwiwu family like the Ojiakos? Is this what Frank Ojiako and the Ojiako family legal luminaries (who have the ugly habit unbecoming of their calling (which should interest their professional and occupational superintending authorities), of harassing Ogwuaga-Abba innocent citizens with threats of dealing with and calling them “bloody fool”, “idiot”, as part of the effort to blackmail them into submitting to their inordinate interest in installing their minion as Eze ? Should membership of some professions not call for strict circumspection. How appropriate is it for them to descend into the “he said, she said” arena, thus, bringing themselves to the same level as the brawlers and their high office into dispute?Chikezie queried
Chikezie pointed out that “it baffles our people that Okezie is busy wasting his time and resources jumping up and down even after clear admonitions from their late father, Chief Emanuel Akwiwu, SAN, on 01/11/2011, that Okezie has allowed Frank Ojiako, acting in cahoots with his brothers who boast of knowing everybody in government and can bend them to their will through what can only amount to abuse of their sacred societal roles, to mislead him. In his desperation, propelled by inordinate ambition, he has allowed scammers to continue milking him over the Ezeship stool, which is already permanently settled according to the wish of the OGWUAGA people.” He further queried why Frank Ojiako, whom he said claims to work with the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), is always busy at home playing dirty politics of divide and rule in the Akwiwu family, instead of teaching his students at FUTO, for which the Federal Government pays him. “Everyone is wondering when he ever finds the time to devote to his FUTO job, and it is high time that FUTO Vice-Chancellor wielded the big stick on Frank Ojiako. When does he ever get to review what must be the enormous amount of papers submitted by those he is supposed to be supervising.”
Nze Chikezie stressed that “one day soon, what some of the Ojiako family members are seeking in the Akwiwu family may become public knowledge, as their hide and seek game is over. Their reign of intimidation is also over. We need peace, progress, and prosperity in Ogwuaga-Abba community, and our King, Eze Obinna Akwiwu, is poised to give us that. He is decent, polished, a grassroot man, has enormous,pedigree, and is a monarch well-loved by his people.”
“Why can’t those Ojiakos, the Uwalaka-Ashabelems (whose one-minute claim to fame is the mention of their ugly, abusive, gutter-level, thuggish, roguish, motor park tactics) and one particular person among all the Ohiaeriakus, Patrick, who always boasts of having “Bini juju powers” whatever that means (which he is yet to apply to addressing the poverty in the land), who act as their attack dogs get their dirty, stinking, meddlesome fingers out of Akwiwu family and mind their own families? Why their annoyance over Chief E.C. Akwiwu’s last Will and Testament? Was he their father? What is their business in demanding that the Eze submits it to the adjudication of the town union while Frank Ojiako or any other person was PG? How does it concern them or the Uwalaka-Ashabelems, or the Patrick Ohiaeriaku? Nze Chikezie asked.
He said that all these “gold diggers” he mentioned never played any part in Okezie’s upbringing,noting, however, that nobody begrudges them in their good fortune in Okezie’s concept of “food is ready, come chop”. By all means, let them continue “chopping” but they must let the Akwiwu family and Ogwuaga-Abba community be,he cautioned.
A certified copy of “The Last Will and Testament” of the patriarch of the AKWIWU dynasty, late Chief Emanuel Akwiwu, SAN, exclusively obtained in the course of investigation of the matters arising from Ogwuaga-Abba community Ezeship, indeed confirmed that the late Akwiwu’s patriarch expressed serious reservations about the character and personality of Engr Okezie Akwiwu, his own son. His conduct calls to mind the description of the serpent in one of William Shakespeare’s plays that curses the base steps by which he ascended.
In paragraph 8, of the document dated November 26, 2001, (10 years before the demise of the patriarch of the Akwiwu dynasty as an octogenarian) and registered at the High Court of Umuahia Probate Registry, Abia State, Okezie Akwiwu was described thus: ” My son, Okezie, for reasons best known to him has arrogated himself to the state of being the unwanted and hated child among the members of my family who, despite the excellent professional tertiary education and challenging opportunity given to him for the common good of the family, has preferred to live and operate exclusively to a selfish end.” In the said document, Eze Obinna Akwiwu was described by their late father in paragraph 4, in the following words : ” I have throughout my years in life with my children, found my first son, Obinna Akwiwu, a befitting successor to take the mantle of leadership in the family when I have had the privilege of joining my ancestors”
Continuing in paragraph 5 of the same document, the patriarch of the Akwiwu dynasty further defined Eze Obinna Akwiwu as : “a humane son, industrious, respectful, very loyal with proven integrity, considerate, accountable, generous, a good builder, always ready and willing to accommodate the members of his family. I wish his brothers and sister would emulate him.” To reaffirm his firm belief and endorsement of Eze Obinna Akwiwu as his successor, late Chief Emmanuel Akwiwu posited in paragraph 13, of his Last Will and Testament that: “I direct that my son, Obinna Akwiwu at his own discretion, may give or grant to any of my children herein named in clause 2 of this Will and Testament, and who in addition, accords him the respect due to him as the Head of the family, whatever my said first son may wish to give or grant to any of my other said children out of my said Estate”.
He further added, in paragraph 14, that: ” I appeal to my son, Obinna, in his usual characteristic, sensible, and charitable manner to do his best to keep the family together and accommodating deserving cases of penitence”.
Incontestably, according to another elder, Chief Tony Allinor, the late SAN’s clear statements seriously indict the Ojiakos’ sense of judgement. “It only becomes clearer what motivates them, when pecuniary considerations are factored into the equation along with the complete nonentities (the Uwalaka-Ashabelems whose far less than sterling war time village fowl stealing pedigree stinks to heavens so high, that one cannot help but wonder about their influence and aphrodisiac effect over Okezie’s reposes to such scoundrels,scallywags and societal dregs, so much so that without a care in the world, they can abuse anyone, including the Governor. What of Patrick Ohiaeriaku – the one always bragging of having Bini Juju. Why is he having such over-bearing influence over Okezie instead of the other way round? Could they conceivably know the children of Chief E.C. Akwiwu, SAN, more than their own father? Chief Allinor wondered.
He emphasized that “it is noteworthy that Okezie is not even the second son of Chief EC Akwiwu, but is claiming Ezeship above Nnamdi, his next in seniority hierarchy by 9 years. Even that one, reputedly for reasons not unadjacent to pecuniary interest, has quite happily traded his cultural and traditional hierarchical rights, in his erroneous belief of what it would take to ridicule his elder brother and their father, believing that if a few vehicles, buildings, construction support and ample supply of cash stipends in naira and foreign currencies from time-to-time were on the cards, why not. But now, he has realized what hitting a brick wall looks like. Just see how he follows his much younger brother about, cringing and craving before him. pity, pathetic,” Allinor said.
Responding to a question, a prominent indigene of Umudurunna-Abba Autonomous Community who knows the family very well, Chief Athenatius Anyanjo, opined that Eze Obinna Akwiwu’s traducers are evil men who do not wish their community well.
He expressed shock that some otherwise reasonable indigenes of Ogwuaga-Abba community should indulge in perfidious acts against their own people just for selfish economic reasons, especially when progress is now on its way to the community.”Thanks to the wisdom of the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma.” He expressed gratitude to Governor Hope Uzodinma for granting the wish of the people, stating that from the situation on ground, “the Ogwuaga-Abba community is solidly behind their traditional ruler, Eze Duru Oshimiri (III) Obinna Akwiwu, Dim Ohamadike II, and is eager to forge ahead”.
Chief Ben Mbanaso, Vice-President General of Ogwuaga-Abba United Front, in his reaction, described Eze Obinna Akwiwu as “a true King of the people, well loved by his people. From the way he has always carried himself, supported, and interacted with our people, “Ezekwesiri” is clearly an appropriate epitaph for him.” He pointed that “it is always possible to find one or two enemies of progress who would always want their private wishes to supercede the common interest of the entire community, but after nearly 6 years of artillery fire from them without relent, we cannot continue living at their pleasure. Now they will be made to realize that there are men in the land,” since the government has made and proclaimed its decision.”
Mbanaso urged Eze Obinna Akwiwu to remain steadfast, assuring him that “God will strengthen you and guide you to rule your people as a good leader that you have always been.”
Engr Tony Allinor, who is an indigene of Umuopara-Abba, while speaking further, pointedly “blamed some members of the Ojiako family for the nonsense that has been going on all these years.” He explained that it is an aberration for Okezie Akwiwu, who is 13 years junior to Eze Obinna Akwiwu, to allow himself to be used by some elements in the Ojiako family to create unnecessary confusion in the Akwiwu family, and Ogwuaga-Abba community through continuous, unbridled and unrelenting poisoning of the relationship with his Eze who in their father’s lifetime, single-handedly sent him to the UK for further studies in 1991.It is from this act of charity or whatever anyone wants to call it, that some of the Ojiakos having been reaping bountifully, to the detriment of the Akwiwus, who ought to have reaped what they sowed,but who, nevertheless, have never complained.
According to Allinor, “Okezie is unnecessarily arrogant and stubborn with a very big ego He finds comfort in the Ojiakos’ users club, including Frank Ojiako, who has always been noted for his cantankerous nature, and never heart’s ease, except when fishing in troubled waters, right from his ILORIN days. Was it not the duo of himself and his brother, Dan, that attempted a coup d’etat to dethrone their uncle, the first Eze of Ogwuaga-Abba, the late HRH Justice GGI Ojiako (Rtd) OON, CON? But for the steadfastness of Ogwuaga-Abba people, the late Ohamadike would have been history long before his demise,” Allinor explained.
“However, no matter what the Ojiakos may wish, the Ezeship stool of Ogwuaga-Abba community is firmly secured and is no longer vacant. I advise Okezie Akwiwu, in his own interest, to beware of the Ojiakos, the Uwalaka-Ashabelems and Patrick Ohiaeriaku henceforth, before such unholy and inimical alliances put him in direct line of fire with the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, Failing, he and he alone will face the consequences as they unfold. Ogwuaga-Abba has gone past the childish games stage. It served his major supporters well in enriching their pockets while they deceived and dealt him with a bad card because their assurances woefully came to nothing,” Allinor warned. He said that Okezie and his gang should note it now in case he has not, that it is no longer about HRH Duru Oshimiri (III) Obinna Akwiwu, Dim Ohamadike II, Eze Ogwuaga-Abba. “He should avoid by all means, the collision course with the Imo State Government, which will be as crushing as being hit by a moving train, and of devastating toxic consequences for the rest of his life. Surely, he knows the old saying about “onwu n’egbu nwa nkita,” Allinor stated.
Later, when contacted on phone for his reaction, the traditional ruler of OGWUAGA community, HRH Eze Obinna Akwiwu, laughed it off calmly. He said that as a King who is broad-minded, ” I am here for everyone in my domain – “Gbagbagidigbagidi” (ndi kwere, ndi n’ ekwehu), as per the title of one of our revered Ezes, HRH Eze Boniface Uzoma of Ekitiafor-Abba. I welcome all who wish to embrace peace so that we can move our community, which has been at idling speed for nearly 7 years to begin the great mark forward.”
