Crisis Hits Nze Na Ozo In Umuchu Town As 3 Factions Engage In Supremacy Battle 

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The prestigious Nze na Ozo title has thrown Umuchu town in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State into crisis as three factions emerge and are engaged in supremacy battle. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the three factions of Nze na Ozo that have so far emerged are the Supreme Council led by Ozo Ijerenze, the Indigenous led by Chief Bonaventure Mokwe and the traditional Nze na Ozo Council led by Ichie Peter Aginam.

The supremacy battle has brought confusion within the town and the opinion of the indigenes are divided on which is the authentic one among the three factions of Nze na Ozo in Umuchu town.

Findings revealed that initially, the Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo led by Ijerenze appeared to be more popular because they had the monarch of the town, Igwe Godson Ezechukwu, as their Grand Patron and signs out certificate of membership, which conferred on the group some kind of legitimacy.

The packaging attracted significant number of the elites and rich men in the town, who also have significant influence on decision making in the town and the membership became too expensive.

According to the Indigenes, when the Supreme Council started, they were doing well which made prominent indigenes to join them. They raised the bar for membership and it became more expensive.

However, their popularity started fading when they became so powerful and influential and then started having over bearing influence on the political and traditional leadership.

They were alleged to have started admitting questionable characters as members based on money considerations. The indigenes started reacting and began to see them in bad light. Members of the group also started gossiping and infighting among themselves and people watched with mixed feelings.

Such reactions gave room for the formation of Indigenous Nze na Ozo led by Chief Mokwe and other radical minds in Umuchu town, who believed that the Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo has abused the culture and tradition of Umuchu town by importing titles against the culture of the town.

The new group led by Mokwe believes that Nze na Ozo title comes from the kindred and villages unlike the operation of the Supreme Council, which operates as a social club. The initiation of Indigenous Nze na Ozo was said to have finally broken the back of the Supreme Council and many indigenes seem to welcome the development.

Another faction that emerged was the Traditional Nze na Ozo being championed by Ichie Peter Aginam in Umuagu, Ibughubu Umuchu town.  He believes that for one to become an Nze na Ozo title holder, such person must be an upright man with impeccable integrity and the person’s character must not be questioned.

This kind of Nze na Ozo being championed by Ichie Peter Aginam seems to be more challenging because of the conditions attached to it. But many are embracing it because to them,  it is more dignifying unlike Indigenous and Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo.

As the battle rages on, what is certain is that Nze na Ozo Umuchu is seriously facing crises and it is not certain it will return to the old glory as there seems to be no meeting points for the factions.

However, the initiation of indigenous Nze na Ozo members on 31st May, 2025, has shown that the group is getting more prominent and stronger in Umuchu town.