His Royal Highness, Eze George Ekeh, the Ubom of Ubomiri, is the traditional Ruler of Ishi Ubomiri Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State. The renowned economist and public administrator, who has a number of innovations, including the popular sachet water, to his credit, spoke to our Senior Correspondent, ANOLU VINCENT, at his palace on a number issues, including the values, cultures and taboos in his community, as well as the involvement of traditional rulers in partisan politics. Excerpts:
Your name is synonymous with so many things, just as different people describe you in various ways. How would you describe yourself?
I am the traditional Ruler of Ishi Ubomiri Autonomous Community in the Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State. I am a trained economist, a public administrator and an entrepreneur, who has brought quite a number of innovations in our community. I was the first Nigerian to establish sachet water (Pure Water) in the country, which later spread to other African countries. I am an author, a political activist and a former bona fide member of the then, formidable National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a pioneer Secretary General of the Pan Ndigbo Foundation (PNF), which was the very platform used by the Arewa Consultative Forum along with other organisations to form he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I was also a member of the Publicity Committee of the PDP, along with the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, the late Abubakar Rimi and Professor Jerry Gama.
In addition, I was the chairman of the membership committee of Ndigbo Forum in Lagos, comprising Aka Ikenga NBA (Igbo Association) Balogum Traders Association, Association of Town and State Union. I ascended the throne as Ishi Ubom of Ubomiri on Easter Monday, April 21, 2014. That was when I was coroneted as traditional ruler of my community.
How has it been piloting the affairs of your community?
Honestly, it has not been easy, because, as you know, this is a community that is blessed with a lot of prominent individuals and intellectuals, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.
The community is densely populated, rich in human and material resources, people with high intellectual background, entrepreneurs of high class, clergymen, politicians and rascals. As you know, there is no class of people that you do not find in the Obi of an Eze.
Without sounding immodest, I want to assure you that they all came together, examined my personality and family pedigree and unanimously chose me as their traditional ruler.
Why did your people choose you as their traditional ruler?
Well, I think the people themselves should be the one to answer this question. I advise that you go and interview them so that I would not be seen as indulging in self-adulation. But, I want to inform you that I was a prominent student union activist during my days as a student. I did my best to galvanise the Ubomiri community into action whenever it mattered most. For instance, when Egbeada was trying to secede, I staged a one-man riot protest and such prominent indigenes as the late Peter Ogwumike; former Secretary to the Imo State Government (SSG), Festus Uzoma Emeghara, came and pleaded with me to put the community together. I personally secured a working constitution for the Ubomiri Town Union (Lagos Branch).
Are you the first Eze of your community or did you succeed anyone?
I am the first Eze of my community, because it is a new autonomous community. We have Ubomiri Ancient Kingdom, which later gave birth to Amawuihe, Egbeada and Ishi Ubomiri, which are all autonomous now, each with its Eze.
Sir, can you give a little history of your community?
Well, I would not want to bother you with the genealogy and origin of the community because the history that has been passed from generation to generation must have been distorted along the line by succeeding generations. But, in the area of geography and natural asset, Ubo figuratively means the Source and Ubomiri happens to be the place of the highest rainfall.
Ubomiri is the source of the famous Nwaorie River, and in fact, this palace, where you are now sitting, is the source of the Nwaorie. But, because of gradual increase in the height of the soil and the rising of the hill, the water depressed geologically, and as the water dries up, you have the hill rising up to100 feet; and here, you get real spring water.
As a devout Christian, how do you marry your religion, with the tradition and culture of your community?
There is no problem here at all, because, the community is 100 per cent Christians and the people are alien to any form of ritual, fetish practices or superstition. Remember that we were among the first settlements in Igboland that had early contact with the white men, especially the missionaries, and equally embraced Christianity. We produced such clergymen as the late Monsignor Joseph Nwanegbo, who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1937, Monsignor Moses Iheanetu Emerenini, who was ordained Catholic priest in 1947, numerous college principals, industrialists, educationalists and others.
Our cultures are not obnoxious at all. Even though we still have some individuals with different principles and ideologies, that does not mean we have diabolical or devilish activities. I was coroneted in the church. We respect and obey our cultures and adhere strictly to all issues that promote peace, unity and oneness among others.
My grand father, Ihetuge Eke, was a storekeeper with one of the multi-national corporations that settled in Onitsha in those days and he assisted many people to acquire western education.
Some traditional rulers surreptitiously involve themselves in partisan politics when they are not expected to do so. What is your view on this?
A traditional ruler is expected to take part in the decision making of how he is governed. He also has the responsibility of protecting his subjects from bad leadership. He sees the destructive effects of bad leadership and as such, should participate in the decision making of who should govern his people.
However, he must play a balanced role, because, he is the father of all in his community. The traditional ruler of any community is like the head of a family, who has children with various talents. He knows all his children, those who are strong and those who are weak, those talented in one thing or the other, and so, it is his duty to create a balance in his relationship with all of them. He should not love some and hate others. As a matter of fact, a traditional ruler is not expected to be a registered card-carrying member of any political party, contest or run for any elective position on the platform of any political party. Otherwise, he will offend some members of his community, who are either into active politics or have sympathy for some members of political parties.
What are the culture and festivals for which your community is known?
The community is quite rich in cultures and traditions that are decent and interesting. For instance, we have Egwu Ubomiri, which comes up every two years and it is an amazing dance. The year it is celebrated is usually a year of huge success and progress such as fertility and bearing of babies, bounteous harvests of agricultural produce, unity, peace and progress and above all , good health. The Iri ji, the masquerader known as Okorosha, Keleke, the music and style is very fantastic. Odike, Ngelenge Odike is a very rare cultural dance and is played when a powerful prominent indigene of the community either passes on or when there is war for the soldiers.
During the Egwu festival, once the Eze declares it open, for 10 or 15 days, there will be no obituary announcement, no burial and any fight or quarrel between or among indigenes of the community is viewed seriously and appropriate sanctions applied on culprits. Again, anyone found guilty of stealing is punished accordingly. During the New Yam Festival season, we expect rain because any New Yam Festival celebrated without rain is seen as being odd.
As a traditional ruler that is saddled with a lot of community matters for deliberation and resolution, do you find time for relaxation?
Yes, I normally find time for leisure and during this, I normally write and go to the farm. I have a very large flourishing fish farm, which is the highest catfish fingerlings production. It produces two million every two weeks. I love and play music.
What are your favourite dishes?
I love the food culture of my people. During the last New Yam Festival, we exhibited the best. I am trying to revive our food culture to create a tourist destination. We have Ugba (Igbo salad), Ukwa (bread fruit) of various types, Utara ukwa akara japu (Akara made of cassava) I like Ugbogiri soup because it is delicious when prepared and eaten with pounded yam. Only few young girls know how to prepare it, because, it is usually prepared by older women.
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