Eze-elect, Ekechi addresses Obibi Uratta people over Ezeship tussle case in Court

The Eze-elect of Obibi Uratta autonomous community, Ken Ekechi has called on the people of the community to exercise patience, saying that the Appeal Court will soon give their verdict over who becomes the next traditional ruler of the community.

This is in view of the Ezeship tussle between him; Ken Ekechi, and Sir Bon Ariri which is before the Court.

Ekechi made the call recently while reacting to an address made by his opponent, which he said the people beckoned on him to respond to.

Part of address reads:

“Nde Obibi Uratta Autonomous Community Ndewo!

“Thank you very for having me and requesting that I respond to the recent address by Sir Bon Ariri during an open session in Umuoba. I am therefore yielding to that request to address Nde Obibi Uratta on the current status of Obibi Ezeship Tussle. The case is still pending in the Court of Appeal, Owerrri Imo State, between me, Ken Ekechi, and Sir Bon Ariri.

“To begin, it is very important and necessary to re-emphasize it for all Obibi People to know authoritatively that the Obibi Ezeship Matter is still strongly alive at the Court of Appeal in Owerri.

“The Last Court Hearing Session was on January 31st, 2024, before the case was adjourned to a date that the court will soon fix. Once the new date for the hearing in court is determined to resume, I will announce it publicly and ensure that the news is adequately circulated widely throughout Obibi Autonomous Community.

“I am greatly optimistic that after two or three more hearings, the court will be ready to conclude and settle the Obibi Ezeship matter finally. In this regard, the real and rightful Eze for Obibi Uratta will emerge and pronounced accordingly by the Court of Appeal.

“The Court, in this case, was asked to determine the Ezeship rotation principle in Obibi Uratta and how the rotation affects Umuorii and beyond. When the case resumes, the Court of Appeal is expected to determine that :

1) Obibi Uratta Ezeship is rotatory from town to town and village to village.

2) That Umuorii is divided into two villages by the Obibi Uratta 2010 Constitution, which is Umuotobo and Umuotoboche.

3) Umuotobo, in the first rotation, brought out the first Eze Obibi in the person of Eze Lawrence Anowe.

4) The second rotation would be the turn of Umuotoboche only to produce the Eze.

5) Sir Bon Ariri and Chief Amobi Uwaleke are from Umuotobo that produced Eze Anowe in the first rotation and both Uwaleke and Ariri should never seek to be Eze in the second rotation because they are from Umuotobo and they have produced Eze Anowe in the first rotation.

6) Finally, the court of appeal will make pronouncement after it has determined these issues and resolved the Ezeship tussle. Despite all these, Sir Bon Ariri is jumping out of the skydiving plane, not knowing that his parachute would not work. For now, everyone should remain peaceful, calm, and law abiding while we wait for this case to be resolved by the Court of Appeal in Owerri.

“The Obibi Uratta 2010 Constitution will remain Supreme, and no one, even Ariri or Uwaleke, would be above the Constitution, especially as it affects the rotation principle of Ezeship in Obibi Uratta.

“After the Court of Appeal resolution of the case in my favor, expectedly based on the 2010 Constitution of Obibi Uratta, my leadership in Obibi Uratta would focus and be development oriented. It will not depend on PAPAS and DEVELOPMENT LEVY. Rather, revenue generation and citizens support will be greatly diversified. This will be contrary to the dependency ideas of Sir Ariri on development levy, as he said in his address.

“Meanwhile, our governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has delivered to us the dividends of democracy in his government by tarring MCC Rd to EKEMEGBUOHA and beyond and from Toronto Junction to Egbu and Orji. It is now left for us to sustain the development. To do this requires an Eze with a VISION and EXPOSURE.

“I have assembled a team of donors and expert professionals who will turn Obibi into a new world for people to copy.

“Our visitors and tenants who are now part of us have all indicated support to partner with me to continue the development of Obibi, which can now be called their second home.

“The Appeal Court conclusion of the case of Obibi Ezeship tussle in our favor, based on the Obibi 2010 Constitution, as I have earlier said, it’s close at hand. I want to sincerely and passionately appeal to and enjoin all of you to be patient, strongly hopeful, and loyal to every duely constituted authority.”