Ezeship stool: Awaka community presents Emezi to Owerri North council leadership

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

It was with unprecedented pomp and pageantry as leadership and members of the 3 villages Nde-Egbelu, Umuodu and Amuzi that constitutes Awaka ancient kingdom troupeBd out enmasse last Wednesday and presented Chief Charles Emezi to the council leadership of Owerri North LGA of Imo State as the traditional ruler of the revered community.

The well attended presentation ceremony which is part of the Imo State constitutional process provision for receiving staff of office as a recognized traditional ruler of an autonomous community in the State as contained in Edit No 6 as amended by the State House of Assembly in 2006, 2016, and 2020, as the Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters (Amendment) Law.

The historical ceremony which happened at the Council’s Orie Uratta auditorium Secretariat as Chief Charles Emezi and his prestigious entourage were happily received by Hon.Lucky Abaraonye, the Executive Chairman with other members of the executive, legislative and administrative council of the local government area.

In his speech, before pronouncing Chief Charles Emezi as the Eze elect of Awaka autonomous community, Hon. Lucky Abaraonye, the Council’s Executive Chairman, commended them for doing the needful by coming to the local government headquarters for the presentation as part of the process for recognition as a traditional ruler after the completion of the communal traditional rites, noting that charity begins at home.

Abaraonye however informed that some groups have earlier came from the autonomous community for the same Ezeship presentation and that another group have shown interest to come for a similar feat from the autonomous community

He observed that Ezeship stool is a contest that doesn’t calls for quarreling, enemity and violence, and that at the end of the day, one person among the litany of the contestants will surely emerge as the winner and every other person including the fellow contestants should rally round and support him, in line with the community’s popular agreement or resolution.

According to him, “90% of the job of crowning a traditional ruler, is in the hands of members of the community, because it’s the community that determines who will be their traditional ruler, then the leeway to the State for recognition and presentation of staff of office is through the Local Government as you have come to do today.

“It’s a constitutional rights for every person interested to contest. It’s not only applicable to Owerri North. It’s like that in the entire 27 Local Government Areas of the State.

“The President General of every autonomous community has the constitutional right to present any person to the council who declares interest to be a traditional ruler without discrimination, because it’s the people’s constitutional right and it doesn’t make the President General to be seen as been one sided or biased.

The President General by Imo State constitutional status is the administrative head and father of the autonomous community.

“A President General cannot shy away from his statutory responsibilities, just like me, as an Executive Chairman of the Council, no body will come, whereas he has fulfilled the basic requirements, that I will jettison away but at the end of the day, the government knows the right thing to do in line with the majority of the people’s expectations, constitutional and traditional requirements.

“After this presentation and pronouncement as Eze elect, it’s the Council’s duty to officially move all the Eze elect’s relevant documents to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for further recommendation.

“I appeal to Awaka people that came with Chief Charles Emezi and those at home and in the Diaspora, as he is going to be pronounced Eze Elect in few minutes from now, to shun anything that may rock the boat as all of them have one blood relationship with each other in Awaka” he passionately advised.

He pointed out that the community has no reason for a breach of security because of Ezeship tussle, noting that as the chief security officer of the council area, his leadership will definitely not tolerate any unsafe security situation, ditto the State government of Senator Hope Uzodimma.

The council Chairman reiterated that Ezeship position is a contest and at the end of the day, one person will emerge as winner based on God divine directive, the will of the majority of the people and in tandem with the State government constitutional requirements.

“Ezeship is not an issue of sentiment probably based on blood relationship or philanthropic gestures. It’s something of justice and in line with the people’s cultural, traditional and constitutional norms and values.

“Ezeship is so sensitive and sacrosanct that it requires carefulness in taking from the stock of the bests of the best in the overall interest of posterity and generations after us.
Moreso, it’s only God that makes king at the end of the contest, among the litany of the contestants”.

The highlight of the occasion was the pronouncement of Chief Charles Emezi as, henceforth the Eze elect of Awaka autonomous community by the council Chairman and in the presence of the members of the Council’s leadership and the marmount crowd that attended the occasion.

In his response, Chief Charles Emezi, the Eze elect of Awaka autonomous community expressed satisfaction for the historical reception recalling that the Ezeship legal battle has taking him over 25 years in the court.

” I visited Supreme Court Abuja 13 times and finally the Supreme Court reaffirmed me as the rightful occupant of Awaka traditional stool, in the same way, the High and Appeal Courts sitting in Owerri earlier and Awaka people affirmed me as the authentic traditional ruler of the famous autonomous community.

” As an ambassador of peace, I bear no grudge against any man in Awaka. We’re one. I sincerely thank God, my good people of Awaka and the judiciary for standing firm towards justice despite all the challenges and delay.

“In every contest, there must be an end, to me, this fight has ended and there’s no victor, no vanquish. It’s a total victory for people of Awaka ancient Kingdom. As brothers and sisters, we must work together in building and protecting our dear ancestral community.

” I thank the Executive Chairman for saying it’s a contest.In life, no body should close the dream or ambition of each other to aspire, allow everybody the freedom and latitude to aspire for whatever he or she dreamed for.

“It’s never wrong for people to have an aspiration, but the gospel truth is that, it’s only God, equity and justice that gives power. I don’t believe in violence. Am an ambassador of peace, rule of law and natural justice.

“Mr Chairman, I thank you again for reminding us to be calm, and to maintain peace and order in our beloved community. Leadership is not all about imposition nor is it all about violence. Leadership is all about the people, with purposeful and visionary thinking, it’s about what you can offer to your people so as to be impactful, and positively change the narratives by bettering their lives.

“It’s also about serving, with the fear of God, respect and services to humanity. Am assuring my people and Imo State people at large, that am poised to positively enthron transformational, purposeful and people oriented traditional leadership in Awaka community”.

Emezi also insisted that the era of intimidation, violence and lack of communal love is gone, noting that It’s his covenant with God, that a new Awaka community of their collective dreams is possible.

“As a traditional ruler, I should be able to provide mentorship to the younger generation, and protect our good ancestral traditions and cultural heritages. I will partner with the State and local governments, am not the talking type. I believe more in actions and results” he stated.

Thus, It’s no longer news that the legal battle to ascertain the authentic traditional ruler of Awaka autonomous community took over 25 years but the fight ended as Supreme Court of Nigeria which is the court of final arbitration in the country, on Tuesday 27th January, 2026 re-affirmed Chief Charles Emezi as the rightful traditional ruler of the revered autonomous community in a landmark judgement on the suit, SC/325/2013 which was between Chief Akujobi David Osuagwu and Chief Charles Emezi and 3 others.

The judgement as contained in the Certified True Copy (CTC) and endorsed by Anita Ushelle Cladokun Esq, the Supreme Court Registrar as made available to news men then stated that the historic ruling was presided over and delivered by JSC Mohammed Lawal Bello with Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa, Haruna Simon Tsammani, Stephen Jonah Adah, and Mohammed Baba Idris as the other Justices of the Supreme Court that were also present and officiated.

The report equally stated that A. G. Ajeka, Esq., with C. J. Uko Nnoram, Esq. and F. I. Evans, Esq represented the appellant, while Eze Duru-Iheoma, SAN and Grace Iwu, Esq were for the 1st respondent.

However, Paul Obinatu, Esq., Hon. Attorney General, Imo State, A. U. O. Owuego, Chief State Counsel and A. B. U. Chukwe, Principal State counsel represented the 2nd and 4th Respondents.

It further noted that before the delivery of the judgement, Ajeka said he has an application dated 21st January, 2026 for substitution of the appellant who is deceased. “However, I apply to withdraw the appeal” he said.

Subsequently, Duru-Iheoma, SAN and Obinatu said they have,”no objection to the withdrawal of the appeal”.

Thus, the Supreme Court in it’s wisdom and point of law said, “for being withdrawn without objection from the respondents, the appeal stands and is hereby dismissed” the case then closed as another victory for Chief Charles Emezi.

The judgement implication is that the Apex Court in its ruling dismissed the appeal of Late Chief Akujobi David Osuagwu and upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division and the High Court of Imo State which had earlier pronounced Emezi as the authentic traditional ruler of the embattled Awaka ancient autonomous community.

Sir Emeka Ariri, the Chairman of the 15 Man Committee piloting the affairs of Awaka autonomous community, Chief Nick Anyanwu, the spiritual head of the community were among the eminent sons of the community in the entourage.