Mbaise Clan at war over proposed Chieftancy title on Okorocha's son-in-law Uche Nwosu

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri

The plans by the traditional rulers of ancient Mbaise clan in Imo State to give Chieftaincy title to Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, the Chief of Staff to Governor Rochas Okorocha, during the forthcoming annual Iriji cultural Festival is tearing the ancient communities apart as Ezuruezu Mbaise, the apex-socio-cultural association has disassociated itself from such plans.

The AUTHORITY gathered that the ,Mbaise Traditional Rulers Council, led by HRH Eze Leo Nwokocha, the traditional ruler of Umunneato autonomous community, in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, has advanced plans to crown Ugwumba Nwosu with a “Reserved” Chieftaincy title, a development that was welcomed with uproar, dissenting voices and threat of mayhem within Mbaise and diaspora.

The agitation has reportedly put the traditional rulers in dilemma as millions of Naira is said to have changed hands to ensure the smooth organization of the event even though HRH Eze Nwokocha has denied not to have collected any money from the recipient or the State government, adding that everything is being done out of their magnanimity as royal fathers.

In an effort to ensure that the plot is not actualized by the traditional rulers, the leadership of Ezurueze Mbaise ( an Mbaise Socio- Cultiural Association), in a press statement by Barr Cyril Anyanwu and Hon. Oliver Ewerenem, the President General and Secretary respectively directed that the Iriji Mbaise slated to hold on 15th of August be decentralized.

According to the release “Ezurueze Mbaise wishes to therefore advise that Ndi Ezeji and Traditional Rulers should stay and celebrate with their people in their respective autonomous communities for now, and no one will be conferred with any Chieftaincy title encompassing the entire Mbaise nation without the consent of the stakeholders from the five clans of Mbaise.

“The rumour over the centralization of 2018 Iriji and conferment of Mbaise Chieftaincy titles on anybody (Mbaise Indigene or Non-Indigene) on the 15th of August is hereby disclaimed by Ezurueze Mbaise and all her affiliate bodies as it negates a long standing decision on conferment of Chieftaincy on Iriji Mbaise Festival day and an aberration to our cultural heritage.” The group stated in the statement.”

The AUTHORITY observed that the rift has become more political than traditional as some believed that the Chieftaincy title and the proposed centralized Iriji cultural festival was a ploy to allow Ugwumba Uche Nwosu to have an inroad into Mbaise and to canvass for support and cooperation for his ambition to succeed his father in-law, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Unconfirmed source says that the political class in Mbaise were against the Chieftaincy title, which to them symbolizes an endorsement by the ancient clan, even as over 10 of their sons are on the race to govern the State in 2019.