Jubilation as court resolves conflict over Ezeship tussle in Ishiagu, Ebonyi state:
THERE was jubilation in Ishiagu kingdom in Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi state when news about the resolution of the Ezeship tussle in the area filtered into the ears of the members
of the community. The matter which was brought before an Ebonyi State High Court sitting in Abakaliki on 23rd May, 2012 by the plaintiffs, Mr. Joseph Makwe and Anor against the defendant, Chief Moses Okafor Ngele was yesterday struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution by the parties involved. In a dramatic twist, the Plaintiff’s Counsel, E.Uwakwe who had stood side by side with his clients over the matter, orally applied to discontinue the suit. In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Benson Ogbu who carefully listened to the oral application made by the plaintiff’s counsel, which was not opposed by the counsel to the defendant, Mazi M. Igbo, struck out the suit. Reacting after the ruling, the Agu III of Ishiagu Kingdom, Eze Moses Okafor Ngele who was made king on 16th December, 2011, described the court ruling as victory for the people of Ishiagu and commended the judiciary for discharging its responsibility without bias, prejudice and hypocrisy. “People should know that nobody fights for traditional stool; once you are chosen by God and the people are behind you, there is no battle you cannot surmount. People should stop taking matters of tradition to the court. I want to advise politicians to focus on their activities in government and stop interfering with the tradition of their area. By this ruling, I remain the Agu III of Ishiagu Kingdom”. Meanwhile, Ishiagu Council of Elders, in Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi state has reaffirmed that no group of persons can reverse the selection and installations of Eze Moses Okafor Ngele as the Agu III-elect of Ishiagu Kingdom. In a statement by the Chairman, Ishiagu Accredited Council of Elders, Chief Ubani Okoro, Acting Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Isaac Chukwu, Chairman, Ishiagu Traditional Advisory Committee, Chief Patrick Ajah Eni and Secretary Ishiagu Traditional Affairs, Fred Ume Orsi, the Council of Elders called on members of the public to be wary of politicians or groups in the state who are busy fanning the ember controversy at it concerned the traditional rulership of Ishiagu kingdom.