Reactions have trailed our last publication urging His Excellency Governor Peter Mbah to intervene in the Mburubu kingship tussle. Though the reactions appear to have come from one side of the divide, (which are what we received) it has thrown some light on the issues at stake.
Reactions:
Ozo Simon Aniobi MBA:
I read your contributions to the tussle of the traditional ruler (igwe) in the Mburubu community. I was compelled to provide you with detailed information on how the community has been applying rotation of various offices (President-General; Ward Councillor at LGA and Traditional ruler – Igwe) among the seven villages in the community, as enshrined in the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution.
Interestingly, the commissioner for rural development and chieftaincy affairs, Enugu State used the same 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution to supervise the election of the current President-General.
In the same vein, the same 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution was used to elect the current Mburubu Ward councilor at LGA..
The community wants to continue the usage of rotation in the selection of Igwe as enshrined in section 6.0 Part 3 of the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution. But some persons with financial muscles want to thwart the constitution and that was the beginning of the so-called igwe tussle.
Solomon Obinna Okafor
Actually it is getting out of hand every day by day in our dear community Mburubu Kingdom. Mburubu has not divided more than what we see in this present time. A group of people have decided to set Mburubu Kingdom on fire for doing the wrong thing. We believe in rotation and this has been working for us as a community. Uhuegbe is the next to produce Igwe while bringing a person from another village…
THE CONCEPT OF ROTATION OF IGWE STOOL (KINGSHIP), WARD COUNCILOR AND OFFICE OF PRESIDENT-GENERAL AMONG THE SEVEN VILLAGES THAT CONSTITUTE MBURUBU COMMUNITY.
Concept of rotation of office
Rotation of office is an expression that refers to a system in which two or more persons, group of persons or federating units of equal rank take it in turns to occupy a more senior role or position in a society. Thomas Jefferson, an American and a staunch advocate of rotative principle says that “the term rotation in office means an obligation on the holder of an office to go out at a certain period” and a smooth replacement by another person. It refers to a designed system in which federating units that constitute a larger society take it in turns to occupy certain senior positions. It is designed in such a manner that persons from various segments of a society are given equal opportunities to take turns to occupy certain revered positions.
The strategy helps to eliminate tensions that could have arisen from tussles between groups of individuals in the processes towards occupation of certain vacant senior office positions. It is an effective tactic to manage hybrid of persons from diverse society that have expressed desire to occupy certain positions of authority. Such persons ordinarily could not have had the required resources to struggle and vie for high positions but rotational principle encourages inclusiveness, hence an opportunity is being presented to everyone within the segments of society to have a shot at senior office positions. The absence of rotational principle would have made it near impossible for other competent members of a society to occupy certain positions of authority. Therefore, rotation is a system that encourages inclusiveness, creates sense of belonging and harmony among federating units.
Historical experience in Mburubu community
In the past, Mburubu Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State has had the misfortune to experience near-crisis situations. This was prompted by the desire from different villages that make up the community, to produce either a Ward Councilor in the Local Government chambers or President-General of Town Union administration, whichever becomes vacant. Invariably, the positions of a Ward Councilor or Town Union President-General becomes vacant most often because of its short tenure that spanned between four to six years. And because of shortness of the tenure of both positions, the community usually witness tussles between villages and individuals aspiring to occupy such revered offices. The processes of filling both positions whenever they become vacant has always generated chaotic situations among the seven villages in the community.
The acrimony, hatred, in-fighting and civil disorder that characterized selection or election processes had created disunity, instability, exclusiveness and retards infrastructural developments among the federating villages. These dysfunctional systems prevailed in the community for so long until both political and traditional leadership of the community decided to take the bull by the horns to restore sanity and change the narratives.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The political and traditional leadership of the community, ably represented by Town union executive council and His Royal Majesty, Igwe Emmanuel Mmoghalu Ogbuzulu Ezeh JP, (Ozulumba 1 of Mburubu) in conjunction with Igwe-in-council (i.e. Igwe cabinet members), respectively, in the year 2002, galvanized the entire people of Mburubu community to address once and for all the recurring decimal that had become hydra headed problems tearing the community apart. It was during this period that the community agreed that all revered positions of authority be rotated among all the seven (then six) villages that make up the community. The essence was to foster harmony, peace, unity, stability, achieve inclusiveness, equal opportunities of representation and above all, help to evenly distribute infrastructural development amongst the federating villages.
Consequently, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was executed and sealed in the community on April, 2002, to the effect that all positions of authority in the community should rotate among all the existing and potential villages that make up Mburubu. This would give equal opportunities for even representations by each village in the administrative set up in the community. The principle ensured that every village has opportunities to occupy those high valued positions in the future. This system achieved the desired inclusiveness, significant peace, and stability.
2003 Constitution of Mburubu Town Union
The 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution incorporated the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rotation of the offices of Igwe stool, Ward Councilor and President-General to become constitutional matters. The following sections of the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution, expressly and explicitly discussed the processes for rotation of the above positions among the federating villages in the community.
Section 11.4 Part1 of the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution says: “To achieve fairness and equity and ensure spread of administrative machineries among the constituent villages in the community, there shall be a zoning system in which all elective positions shall be zoned to each village as may be determined by the electoral panel.
Section 6.0 Part 3 of 2003 Mburubu Town Union constitution alt with rotation of Igwe stool among the seven villages and this rotation shall be in the order of village seniority.
Beneficiaries of rotation principle.
Stability, peace, unity of purpose and inclusiveness were restored to Mburubu community, following the adoption and implementation of the rotational arrangements as contained in the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution. Consequently, virtually all the seven villages that make up Mburubu Community had benefited from the constitutional rotational arrangements.
President-General position
The constitutional provisions for rotation of President-General was prepared, approved by the community and is recognized by the Enugu State Government. The leadership of High Chief Ozor Simon Aniobi MBA, FCTI, FCA, as President General of Mburubu Town Union achieved such a feat. He successfully gave the community strong institution, through the instrumentality of the 2003 Town Union Constitution, which the Enugu State Government recognized and registered in the year 2004. Subsequently, the community started to implement the sections of the legal document to achieve smooth transition and transmission of power from one leadership to another. The following villages have taken their turns to produce President-General of Mburubu Town Union in line with constitutional provisions as contained in the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution.
Uhuagu village
The village produced Mr. Celestine Chukwu as President-General (PG) for a single tenure of five years as stipulated in the 2003 constitution. His reign as PG covered the periods of five years from 2008 to 2013. Mr Celestine Chukwu of Uhuagu village took over the mantle of leadership from High Chief Simon Aniobi from Umunafor village, who held the position of PG from 2003 to 2008
Uhuegbe village
The village produced Chief Cornelius Okorie as PG from 2013 to 2018 for a single tenure of five years. At the end of his tenure, certain individuals tried to truncate electoral processes to usher in a PG into office. This led to inability of the community to immediately elect another PG. But the generality of the community resisted the attempt to truncate existing constituion. And within the periods of resistance, the Enugu State Government had to intervene to avoid breakdown of law and order. Consequently, the Enugu State government of Governor Ugwuanyi, imposed interim administration for one year within which to conduct free, fair and credible Town Union general elections for Mburubu community. Ironically, throughout the period of one year, no sign of community administration was felt. However, the community had to converge to change the narratives after the expiration of one year. An election into the office of President-General was eventually conducted, concluded and witnessed by representatives of state government in the year 2020.
Obinagu village
The Obinagu village produced High Chief Emmanuel Edeh as the PG in the year 2020. He is the current President-General. His election into office was supervised by the then Honourable Commissioner for Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters – Honourable Mama and his team. The 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution was used for that election and it is still the subsisting legal document for administrative purposes in Mburubu community. The tenure of High Chief Emmanuel Edeh as PG will end in the year 2025 in accordance with five years single tenure provided in the 2003 Mburubu Constitution.
Ward Councilor position
The Mburubu community continued to use the 2003 Town Union Constitution in the selection or election of persons into the office of Ward Councilor. The community has one elective ward for purposes of election into the office of Councilor. The continued use of 2003 constitution in conducting elective positions in the community has no doubt, helped the community to douse tensions, eliminate rancor and foster peace, unity and stability amongst the federating villages.
Uhuegbe village
The village has produced Hon, Christopher Nwafor as Ward Councilor in 2002. He took over from late Hon Augustine Chukwu from Umunafor village. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was applied in achieving the election of Hon Nwafor as councilor.
Umudara village
It was actually the turn of Obinagu village to produce a Ward Councilor after Uhuegbe village. However, Obinagu village appeared not prepared for the position, hence the opportunity was given to Umudara village, which was the next village to take its turn, in line with MoU and constitutional provisions. Consequently, Umudara village produced Hon Ifeanyi Njoku as the Ward Councilor. Ironically, Ifeanyi Njoku who was a staunch beneficiary of rotation is one of the few persons trying to truncate rotational arrangements. What an irony of fate!
Obinagu village
On completion of the tenure of Hon Ifeanyi Njoku as ward councilor, the community allowed Obinage village to take another chance of producing a ward councilor. This was in fulfilment of the provisions of the 2003 constitution. It was this second missionary journey to produce a ward councilor that Obinagu village finally produced Hon Emmanuel Ede as ward Councilor.
Amanator village
The village produced Hon Christopher Onyema as ward Councilor. The transition from village to village were peaceful. This was made possible because each village knew in advance that such position is for them and they start on time to prepare themselves. Every village enjoyed sense of belonging and inclusiveness for equal representations.
Uhuagu village
When it was the turn of Uhuagu village to produce a ward councilor, the Amachi village inadvertently resented vehemently and went ahead to present candidates who expressed desire to become ward councilors as their village turn to produce a ward councilor. The issue wanted to create animosity but the community quickly intervened by making reference to the existing MoU and Town Union constitution. It was then discovered that it was indeed the turn of Uhuagu village, not Amachi village to produce next ward Councilor for the community. Consequently, candidates from Amachi village withdrew to allow Uhuagu village take their rightful turn to produce a ward councilor. Thereafter, Uhuagu village produced Hon Dr. Innocent Ukpabi as the current ward councilor.
Igwe stool (Kingship)
Mburubu community has envisaged the likely crisis that could arise at the demise of her traditional ruler and prepared well ahead of time to reduce or eliminate such crisis. The office of Igwe is not tenured, and that was why the constitutional provisions for rotation of Igwe stool was not pronounced until the death of HRM Igwe Emmanuel Mmuoghalu Ogbuzulu Ezeh, (Igwe Ozulumba 1 of Mburubu Kingdom.
The peace-loving people of Mburubu community do not want crisis in the processes of replacing and filling Igwe vacancy position occasioned by his demise. It was anticipated that one day, Igwe Mburubu would pass away and persons would start bickering to replace him. The thought of exposing the community to such dangerous situations occupied the mindset of great thinkers. To checkmate such dangerous trends, replacement processes were incorporated into the section 6.0 Part 3 of the 2003 Mburubu Town Union constitution.
The section 6.0 Part 3 of the 2003 Mburubu Town Union constitution expressly and explicitly made it clear that upon the demise of an Igwe, the position of Igwe would be rotated among the villages that make up Mburubu, in the order of seniority. The provision appeared silent since it was crafted because the community has not witnessed death of Igwe since then. It might interest you to note that the provisions were approved, sealed by the late Igwe himself before the legal document was registered with the Enugu State Government. That constitutional provisions is prevalent today until it is amended or jettisoned by any court of competent jurisdiction.
Seven villages in Mburubu Community
There are seven villages that make up Mburubu community. These villages are listed below in the order of seniority. It also shows how Igwe stool would be filled in the event of demise of traditional king. This position subsists until otherwise amended. And any right thinking person that love Mburubu community should encourage adherence to this constitutional provisions.
Umudara village.
Uhuegbe village.
Uhuagu village.
Obinagu village
Umunafor village.
Amanator village.
Amachi village.
Next village to produce Igwe
Based on section…… of the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution, the next village to produce Igwe in the community is Uhuegbe. The community does not want to violate its long standing arrangements for rotation as doing that will surely expose her to avoidable crisis. The same constitution that has been effectively deployed to stabilize the community during transition of leadership positions in the areas of President-General and Ward Councilor, will hopefully be applied to stabilize the community in this trying periods of transition from the late Igwe to new one. The community desire to sustain stability and peace by adherence to its 2003 Town Union Constitution.
Benefits of rotation to the community
Rotation of office creates opportunities for empowerment. It creates an environment for peace and stability. It engenders equal development in various human endeavours. The system reinstates hope to persons from diverse segments of a society wishing to occupy certain highly valued positions of authority but ordinarily would not have succeeded if there is no existence of rotation. The transition from village to village were peaceful. This was made possible because each village knew in advance that such position is for them and they start on time to prepare themselves. Every village enjoyed sense of belonging and inclusiveness for equal representations
It might interest you to note that rotation of offices had permeated into the nooks and crannies of every village in Mburubu community. Each village had adopted rotation in their respective internal administrative machineries. In this way, the community was able to achieve cohesion, peace, unity of purpose. Nobody imposes persons on others.
It could be seen that Mburubu community adopted a very robust system of succession plans into various elective offices to eliminate crisis often associated with processes to elect persons into positions of authority in the community.
Dangers of truncating the constitution
Any attempt to jettison the provisions in the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution regarding replacement of the late Igwe, will open up expressway to crisis, anarchy, and destabilization of a peace-loving community. The implications of truncating rotation of igwe title in line with constitutional provisions will endanger rotations of both ward councilor and President-General positions. The negative implications are better imagined than experienced.
Any village, group of people or individual that wants to truncate smooth transition and successive plan as enshrined in the 2003 Mburubu Town Union Constitution should be treated as an enemy of the community. The community desire strong institutions and not strong individuals. Strong individuals will always demonstrate autocratic tendencies that are inimical to community peace, harmony and development.
Individuals or groups have the freedom to demonstrate philanthropic dispositions without holding the community to their aprons of hostages. You can help your community if God blesses you with resources without inducing them to do your biddings contrary to dictates of law. It is the community that can decide to recognize your contributions to community developments through due processes. Many individuals have contributed significantly to build modern community without insisting for reward with Igwe title. These individuals are still at the forefront of making positive contributions to build modern Mburubu community.
One wonders why the community should be put into turmoil by an individual who claimed to be philanthropist without concrete evidence to show it. Making unfulfilled claims here and there to achieve quick popularity does not qualify for philanthropic dispositions. Any reliable philanthropists should be able to walk the talk. The test of the budding is in the eating.
Conclusion
The people of Mburubu community are called upon to sustain the peace and stability that characterized her existence over the years by shunning those that beat the drums of war. If few individuals are permitted to ignite crisis through pecuniary inducements and porridge of yam, then the masses will be consumed by avoidable conflagrations. A stich in time saves nine. The replacement of our late peace loving King should not bring doom but boom. Joyful boom. Peaceful boom. Economic boom. Boom and success in every ramifications to everyone in Mburubu.
By High Chief Ozo Simon Aniobi MBA; FCTI; FCA
(Obata Obie 1 of Mburubu)
Past President – General (2003 to 2008)
Keep a date every Monday for Good Morning Mr Governor.
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