KINGSLEY EBERE
The prestigious Indigenous Nze na Ozo title in Umuchu town in Aguata Local Government area of Anambra State led by Chief Bonaventure Mokwe has taken the center stage following the initiation of the Ichie Ayorochukwu Mbachu as Ozo Ezeobi by the group in grand style.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the initiation took at the Palace of Ichie Mbachu, who is the head (Isi Obi) Uchenabo kindred in Ibughubu village, Umuchu and was attended by the members of Indigenous Nze na Ozo led by Mokwe. Also in attendance included friends, wellwishers and family members of Ozo Mbachu including his kindred.
There has been supremacy battle of the Nze na Ozo title in Umuchu town among three factions namely 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.
While the Indigenous and traditional Nze na Ozo seem to be getting stronger and gaining more acceptance by the majority of the indigenes, the Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo were said to be facing challenges of acceptance based on the emergence of the groups led by Chief Mokwe and Ichie Aginam.
No doubt, the supremacy battle has brought confusion within the town and the opinion of the indigenes appear divided on which is the authentic one among the three factions of Nze na Ozo in Umuchu town.
Some of the indigenes believe that the Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo led by Ijerenze imported some foreign culture and tradition such as Ozo Ezeani, Onowu etc not known in the tradition of Umuchu title. Also the Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo has greater number of prominent indigenes as members but the indigenes alleged that they have been operating as a club without regards to the culture and tradition of Umuchu with outrageous amount for membership including the manner they admit members.
But the indigenous Nze na Ozo, led by Mokwe, believes that Nze na Ozo title comes from the kindred and villages unlike the Supreme Council, which operates as a social club and admits any person once such person has money.
The group led by Mokwe also considers merit and character of the intending member before accepting and not money considerations which has finally broken the back of the Supreme Council as many indigenes seem to welcome the development and are joining them.
Another faction led by Ichie Peter Aginam in Umuagu, Ibughubu Umuchu town, believes that for one to become an Nze na Ozo title holder, such person must be an upright man with impeccable integrity and stand by the truth all the time as was known in the past.
Some of the indigenes believe that this kind of Nze na Ozo being championed by Ichie Peter Aginam seems to the ideal but more challenging because of the conditions attached to it.
According to the indigenes, it will not be a bad idea for Chief Mokwe and Ichie Aginam to merge and form one united Nze na Ozo Umuchu because they have a meeting point in terms of similarity unlike Supreme Council of Nze na Ozo Umuchu.