The paramount ruler of Arochukwu
kingdom, and Eze Aro the 9th, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Eberechukwu Kanu
Oji on Saturday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to embrace true
federalism and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
The Eze Aro made this call during
his coronation ceremony in Arochukwu, stating, “To the Nigerian federal
authorities, I extend the respectful call for a genuine embrace of true
federalism. Marginalization and exclusion must give way to inclusion,
fairness, and justice.
The monarch noted, “The Igbo people,
with their remarkable contributions and rich cultural heritage, deserve
a central place at the heart of our nation’s development. Let us build a
Nigeria where every ethnic group, including the Igbos, can thrive and
contribute to a truly united, progressive and sustainable nationhood,
thereby fostering a peaceful environment, where every citizen feels a
sense of belonging.”
The royal father also pleaded,
“Along these lines, I seize this opportunity to lend my voice to the
concerted calls on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the
release of our son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from his command detention. His
release, already sanctioned by court injunctions, is overdue and will be
in the interest of promoting peace and justice in Nigeria.”
Speaking on the contested throne, the
Eze Aro assured, “I am committed to bringing utmost dignity and
attracting the highest respect to the throne of Eze Aro. I promise to
lead with the fear of God and respect for everyone.”
I pledge before you today to lead
this renaissance with steadfast dedication, harnessing the strength,
resilience and ingenuity of our people.
“Going forward, I will continue to
engage in regional and national efforts that align with my agenda of
elevating the Arochukwu kingdom to new hands of glory and development by
putting God first, upholding our age-long cultural ideals and abiding
by our kingdom’s motto, ‘Ako bu ije’.
“Our unity and progress are inexplicable
ways to the broader aspirations of the Igbo people. By fostering
collaboration and mutual support across the Eastern Nigeria land, we can
unlock the potential that lies within every Igbo and indeed Aro
community. Our shared history, our shared values and our shared
ambitions must guide us towards a future where the Igbo nation stands
tall, contributing significantly to the Nigerian federation’s growth and
prosperity.”
Speaking during the coronation
ceremony, the governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, commended the Aro
people for making the right and best choice in choosing His Royal
Majesty Dr Oji as the 9th Eze Aro of Aro Kingdom, stating, “I do not
doubt that majority of Aro people are very happy with what is happening
here today. There may be one or two people that are not happy, but is
not our business to make everybody happy.
“Let me make one point clear; any
society that does not have leadership is cursed. And, leadership comes
neither from the East, West, North or South. The Bible recorded that
power comes from God. And in His own time, He makes things beautiful.
So, I would like to use what happened in Aro and reconnect it to other
societies. Why do I say so? Gone are the days when people choose the
worst rather than the best as leaders.
“I want to say without any fear of
contradiction, that the Aro people made the best choice. From what I
have seen, from what I have read, from what I have heard about the Eze
Aro the 9th, he is the best in his class.
“He is the type of leader which
every society should aim to have. A leader who will invest in the
community rather than stealing from the community, a leader who will
show the light rather than initiating people into darkness, and a leader
who has a second address (a profession).
“This is because, if you don’t have a
second address, then where you are becomes your second address and the
tendency is for people who don’t have a second address to begin to dip
their hands in the till.
“I can see that the Eze Aro of
Arochukwu will not deep his hands into the till, but on the other hand,
contribute his resources to the development of the Aro community.”