Perspectives On Aro History & Civilization: The Splendour of a Great Past: Vol. 2

Orji

PART ONE

ISSUES ON DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER ONE

ARO LGA: HOVERING AT THE PRECIPICE

EDITORIAL SUITE

We wish to reaffirm our solemn belief in transparency and accountability especially in governance. Every government whether at the federal, state or local level owes it as a sacred duty to be responsible and accountable to the people. Suffice it to say that our people deserve the good life that is the derivative of good governance and rapid development. These are largely contiguous with their inalienable rights as law abiding and peace loving citizens within the Nigerian nation.

Thus, have we often drawn the attention of the powers that be to the heartless and criminal neglect of Aro kingdom by successive governments in Nigeria. We have been consistent in stating the need for our people to be given a sense of belonging through the provision of social amenities, critical infrastructures and the enabling environment for their business to thrive. It is within this premise that we condemn in clear terms the despicable conduct and failure of the authorities at Aro Local Government to give respite to Aro people who have suffered untold hardship, marginalization and deprivation over the years. For long, the Local Government in Aro has become a moribund institution; a hot bed of corruption, ineptitude and all the evils in the book.

A poverty stricken fellow rides on the crest of popular support wins an election and over night becomes a multimillionaire as he channels public money meant for roads, water supply, primary health care and others to his personal accounts. This brazen criminality must stop forthwith. Sad enough, two years into the tenure of the incumbent Chairman, Hon. Nkem Okoro and his councillors, the masses are yet to see the difference between military dictatorship and civil democracy. Many roads remain unpaved; no viable initiative on rural electrification, water supply, poverty alleviation, primary health care among other critical needs. Where then, are the dividends of democracy? The recent mass protest by the people against the misrule and alleged unbridled corruption and lack of vision on the part of the LG chairman - Hon. Nkem Okoro should be taken seriously. It points to larger issues which border on gross discontent and betrayal of trust of the people. The crop of political leaders at the council should realize they were elected to serve albeit selflessly. The positions they occupy are held on trust; they should therefore work tirelessly to reduce the high incidence of misery, poverty, disease, ignorance and lack of enterprise among the people. Where they fail in this regard, they will definitely incur the people’s wrath - which in essence is an inescapable doom.

Aro and the Twin Plagues

- Ben Ezumah

Ask any permanent resident and he is bound to tell you that life in Aro is, to say the least very difficult. Even at the best of times and seasons things remain hard, prices of goods and services very high. Need add that most people are desperately poor; a sizeable portion of the population are retirees, widows, orphans and old people merely eking out a living in over-cropped acres. Among the categories of people mentioned who are lucky, rely on their family members outside the town for sustenance. The crux of the matter is that there is high incidence of poverty, hunger and disease in Aro. This manifest in high mortality rate; hence, no weekend goes by without a funeral or activities related to it. The main thrust of this article is to critically evaluate the root causes of poverty, and hunger in Aro and proffer possible solutions to the twin plagues. Our people cannot be said to be lazy; yet for years farming activities have remained at subsistence level. Those who farm are few and remain largely ignorant of improved varieties and farm imputes such as fertilizers. Big time farming or mechanized methods are simply undiscovered and non-existent. The effects of these anomalies stares every one in the face each morning at impoverished breakfast tables. Aro is surrounded by rivers including the Itu River or Enyong River which empties into the Cross River and subsequently the Atlantic yet there are no fishermen. And so is it a surprise there is no fresh fish to be bought or to be eaten in the whole of Aro? The last time some men were sighted doing some sort of fishing at Iyi-Ocha-nta, their method was simply laughable – spear fishing! It’s an old method which involves killing a fish with a long spear. It is agonizingly slow and tiresome; because you have to first sight the fish, aim and spear. The issue is how many fish could one sight, successfully spear and carry home? Conclusion: a bad method in a dire situation where many mouths are hungry waiting to be fed. Spear fishing is more of a hobby than occupation. Aro has many rivers, streams and ponds, yet very few people take to fishing or see fishing as a source of livelihood. Another complaint is that prices of goods and services are high in Aro. Surprisingly, Aro is very close to Aba – the commercial nerve centre of the entire South East, a mere two and half hours drive away. Reason is, very few people are willing to engage in trading and other commercial activities. Why has Ohafia fully assumed an urban status, always, a beehive of activities? It’s simply because many people engage themselves in all sorts of money yielding activities including pottery, blacksmitting, basket-weaving, barbing, auto-mechanic repairs and so on. All markets are always open; most people work really hard. Aro remains generally sleepy and stunted. In most villages with an average of twenty thousand inhabitants one can hardly count up to two well-stocked retail shops. If you have a vehicle breakdown in any part of the town youwould have to go to Asaga – even there, it’s only one or two people involved in auto repairs. No mechanics village; very few are willing to engage in such a trade yet several youth roam the town. More so, very few people are engaged in transport business. That is why you stand the risk of being stranded if you arrive at Ohafia Park soon after dusk. The chances are high that there won’t be any vehicle heading to Aro. Who is to blame when the business is in the hands of people from outside the town? There are virgin rain forests yet hunting is almost an unknown occupation. One is yet to come across a hunter in Aro. Is it then a surprise that food on many a table goes without sufficient protein? Also in the whole of Aro there is hardly any existing poultry farm. In effect very few people exclude eggs or chicken as part of their regular diets. The question is whereis the much talked about enterprising spirit of the average Aro man. Where is that zeal that dominates, explores, pushes, conquers and thrives even in hostile, sterile environments? Is it a myth or reality? A mere figment of imagination or substance? With fertile soil, rivers, and good seasons isn’t a tragic irony that majority of our people arehungry and in crushing poverty? High percentage of staple food is carbohydrate based with very little meat, fish and vegetables. The long term effect of this condition is simply gruesome. Public health is jeopardized and over-burdened by high rate of diseases which have their root causes in the poor dietary patterns of many people. Aro depends on surrounding communities for so many things to a point of distracting and diversionary complacency. Even the popular palm wine consumed by so many. One is yet to come across any Aro man who taps palm wine. Tut-tut-tut; it has to come from Ikot-Ekpene, Oron, Oboteme and other places. Yet we share the same palms, same soil, same seasons. Methinks, the time has come for the average Aroman to be re-orientated, and galvanized into the enormous opportunities that exist in cottage industry and such other productive ventures. Financial empowerment and high standard of living can only come through hard work; commitment and interest in commercial activities, which would naturally attract investments via micro-credit schemes, loans, and so on. Isusu schemes, cooperative societies should be re-activated and made to address the issues of youth unemployment, hunger, poverty and people in desperate conditions. Finally, the inherent contradictions in our socio-economic activities must be urgently redressed if we are to jump-start the prostrate kingdom and set it on the path of sustainable socioeconomic development.

Re-positioning of Social Clubs and Societies in Aro

EDITORIAL SUITE

Social clubs in most African societies are vehicles of social change, economic empowerment and growth. In Arochukwu, there is a preponderance of social clubs and societies, and their impact or otherwise on the overall development of the community forms the governing intention of this review. In the past, the age-grade system played enormous roles in the socio-economic and political development of Aro. Its impact was felt everywhere; as it provided the much needed support-system and social security in the community. If there were new roads to be charted, forests to be slashed, farm lands to be cleared, grave to be dug, etc the age-grades, especially ones for the youths, provided support, informal education, cohesion and security. In fact, the youths formed a standing army, though un-mobilized or non-regimental. Those of the elderly members of society provided balance and the moral tones which enhanced societal growth. There were vibrancy, ethnic fervor and harmony in the community as different age-grades operated at their various levels. If there was any threat to the community there was instantaneous solidarity and common sense of purpose in tackling the common foe. There was a veritable platform for exchange of ideas, interaction and discourse. Everybody knew everybody. But all that is now history. Urbanization of hitherto rural areas, rural-urban drift, brain-drain and such other modem social trends put paid to all the advantages which the age-grade system had in Arochukwu. Sadly, age-grade system in Aro is now extinct. And that is putting it mildly. Its sad fate commenced in the mid-seventies. By the late eighties, the final nail had been rammed home in its coffin. Now, the generation that never knows what age grade means has long come of age. They are all over the place; rootless and shifty individuals suffering the worst kind of identity crisis. They know next to nothing about omenala, nor do they have any knowledge of the history and civilization of their homeland. The slough which the agegrade system left behind is now a sickening variant called clubs - mere beer quaffing platforms, self-serving,… moribund and indifferent to societal goals and aspirations. Their list is endless - AROSON, ASCON, Ezienyi, Omenuko, Ugwumba, Mgbasi, etc. The level of poverty, hunger and disease remains very high; so also mortality rate. Yet clubs and societies with roots in Aro still find time to revel and cavort in their little corners across the country and beyond, oblivious of their supreme duties and obligations to their home town. No doubt, a few had occasionally shown interest in community development projects but the effort, in most cases, quickly fizzled out before any concrete achievement could be recorded. Often times, failure occurs due to inability on the part of their leaders to chart realistic and attainable goals as well as lack of proper focus and co-ordination. But for how long will this state of affairs last. The need for a concerted effort to re-position and assist these clubs to come to terms with what ought to be their proper roles in the community is urgent. This should be the immediate concern of the leadership of the town. Where they dismiss this call and treat it with levity in their characteristic manner of neglecting important issues, too bad. And, there lies the shocking and traumatizing crux of the matter.

CHAPTER TWO

ARO AT THE CROSSROADS

- Ben Ezumah

THE voices of dissent in favor of the creation of autonomous communities may have been stifled and driven underground but certainly their echoes remain deafening and portentous. Also, one needn’t sit in Okpankpo council to know there isn’t much love lost between the Eze Aro and the Eze Ibom Isii on one hand and Eze Aro and Eze Eze Agwu, on the other. The triumvirate’s relationship has increasingly become more like a cat and mouse affair. These days, if it isn’t a furore over who was excluded from an oversea trip, it’s a war of attrition on who would or wouldn’t collaborate with the other in the Ikeji festival. Thus, have very serious issues intrinsic to the socio-cultural, economic and political well-being of Aro kingdom been often politicized, individualized and trivialized; as the drama of personality clash which became more evident over two years ago serio-comically deepens and becomes increasingly distracting and intolerable. The last Eke Ekpe celebrations, as now well known was almost a non event because of deep rooted disagreements at the very top echelons of Aro traditional hierarchy; which made it that way. It’s amazing that cheap blackmail and arm twisting gimmicks have become methods of driving home well horned animosities and acrimonies. Isn’t it worrisome to note that there hasn’t been any meaningful development in Aro in the past thirty years? Even an incurable optimist would be hard put to name just one completed project; one factory or infrastructure that has been established through communal efforts or otherwise and which has impacted greatly on the lives of the indigenes. Need add, that the several years of Ezeship tussle halted growth, dissipated our collective resources and detracted a lot of respect and rewarding attention from Aro. Could the present rancorous reports be preparing us for another eclipse as traditional elitist infighting and power tussles persist. Far-fetched, maybe but how come everyday seeds of disintegration are sown relentlessly by those who ought to be, by their sensitive positions peace-makers? It would not be out of place to state that it may only be a matter of time before those who want Aro balkanised into autonomous communities cash-in on the widening cracks between Ibom Isii and the throne. At this crucial moment in the history of the nation when every group is re-strategizing and re-positioning themselves creating the enabling environment for the attraction of the dividends of democracy from the government of the day, Aro cannot and should not indulge in a self – dissipater chore of morass of confusion attendant with ethnic strife. Those who resist the creation of autonomous communities have unassailable reasons as those who want it. The beauty of democracy is that it allows for the representation of all shades of opinions. No one should be crucified for holding an opinion which happens to be in the contrary. Dialogue fosters reason and harmonious co-existence. Aro has always been led astray politically; a situation which goes with a huge price. As happened during Sam Mbakwe’s NPP led administration; some Aro sons misled us into voting for NPN and we paid direly for that mistake. Now again, most wards in Aro are APP driven, one remains confounded by this type of political miscalculation. It’s sad that local political elites always take advantage of the ignorance and poverty of majority of the people to their own selfish ends. Therefore, political education of the people is absolutely important if Aro is to make any meaningful progress and restrained from always joining the wrong party wagons. In all, those clamoring for the creation of autonomous communities should be heard, their views even if not accepted should be respected instead of chasing them underground to become rebels, festering wound and source of constant turmoil. Also, Eze Aro should close ranks with Eze Ibom Isii and Eze, Eze Agwu. Each should soften his position and apply the principle of compromise on crucial, disagreeable issues in the interest of peaceful co-existence and harmony. Where differences are allowed to become irreconcilable then the kingdom like a rudderless ship may drift off again in the turbulent sea of anomie with its attendant consequences on development. Reason often dissipates emotion and sentiments; let the deep speak to the deep on these grave issues.

TRAGEDY IN ARO KINGDOM

-Peter Sunny Okafor

It is a tragedy that Arochukwu local government cannot boost of having executed any project in Arochukwu since the creation of the local government. The most saddling and unfortunate thing about the situation is that Aros have had the opportunity of chairing it but they Chairmen place their selfish interest before the interest of Aro and finally succeeded in achieving nothing - only building mansions and buying costly cars for themselves. That is a tragedy’ AROCHUKWU as a kingdom has survived so many centuries. Aro people are known for their common sense and intelligence. They are lawabiding, they love peace, dialogue and discipline. Hard work and honesty were their stock in trade. They strongly believed in themselves and work hard anywhere they are to protect and guard their rich cultural values and traditions. Aro Kingdom has rich norms and sound values which other communities envy. Aros are blessed with a traditional throne that is widely respected in Nigeria. It is reputed to be one of the longest monarchies in the world. Today Aros are respected for having the most revered and oldest traditional stool in Igbo land - the Eze Aro throne. Arochukwu Kingdom has about two hundred and fifty (250) settlements nation wide. It is a kingdom that has a paramount ruler, a king and monarch as their Eze. It was late last year that tragedy started knocking at the door of Aro kingdom. Devil came into the consciences of some selfish men who want to build themselves empires and began to use the Eze of one of the kindred to achieve their selfish end. I guess the intention of these men was to destabilize the revered and peaceful kingdom. These are people who have not been able to organize their families, compound, let alone leading a refined and well organized kingdom like ours. Their arguments were so weak that no reasonable man can accept such. They were arguing that there will be development if their selfish aim is achieved. They forgot that the General Hospital in Arochukwu was brought to Aro crossing Ohafia, Ihechiowa and Ututu; what of the NITEL, what of NIPOST, Police Station, Magistrate and Customary courts and the NEPA. All these are government establishments. What of the Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu and Local Government Headquarters. All these establishments came to Arochukwu crossing so many communities through the efforts of some well meaning sons and daughters of Aro who believe in the spirit of Aro Kingdom and worked hard to protect and develop it. Arochukwu kingdom has a sound political structure such as the Eze Aro, the Okpankpo Aro, the Council of Eze Ogos and the Advisory Council. It also has Nzuko Aro which takes care of other social and administrative functions. But when this ugly monster came in, when some men in a kindred began to seek for their selfish autonomy, suspicion and confusion began to exist along these beautiful political and traditional structures that has been in existence from time immemorial. Thanks to His Royal Majesty - the Eze Aro of Arochukwu - Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro for his steadfastness and courage. Your Majesty Sir, I congratulate you, I respect and honor you for your efforts in protecting and guarding this precious gift to Arochukwu - the Eze Aro institution. Aros do not know the value of what they have until they loose it, then they will begin to appreciate the effort of their ancestors. Thanks to God that His Majesty is gradually occupying his rightful position in the scheme of things in Nigeria. Aros participated in almost all the governments in Nigeria right from the colonial era, independent era, to the present day political set up. Aros have played prominent roles in the governance of this country and are still playing till today. Let us go back a little to history, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Alvan Ikoku and S.G. Ikoku were there in the independence era. Mazi S.G. Ikoku was a Commissioner for Economic and Social Development in the then East Central State. Mazi Umezuruike, Commissioner in the old Imo State, Isaac Offor Chairman, NPP-Imo State, Arc. Anthony Okoro, Mazi Emma Ikoku, Kanu Orji and many others have been commissioners in one time or the other in the old Imo State and Abia States. I don’t count other serious political appointments that is so numerous to count. Were Aros not members of PTF organization which built, equipped, renovated, rehabilitated and furnished many institutions in the country? But no school, hospital or any other institution was listed let alone rehabilitated in Arochukwu. It is tragic to know that we had two prominent Aros who occupied important positions in the PTF but still nothing was done in Arochukwu. Why was Mary Slessor College not rehabilitated and fenced like others in other places where PTF took such projects? It is unfortunate to note that Mary Slessor Technical College, one of the only two secondary schools in the kingdom has no library, well equipped laboratory, not even good class rooms. The story in Aggrey College is not different. Aggrey is one of the first secondary schools in Eastern Nigeria and the first mixed school in Africa and it has produced prominent men and women. Why must it be abandoned like that? It is a tragedy. A tragedy is right now in Arochukwu Kingdom. Let’s look at the so called Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu (ACETA). Thanks to Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu led administration for remembering the efforts and contributions of Aros in educational sector and sited that institution in Arochukwu. Since that time, the government of Abia State has made little or no effort in reviving that institution. One can not imagine, that up till date such a big institution of higher learning has no administrative block, no departmental offices, no hospital, no lecture hall, no library. It operates with two vehicles and worst still the managers of that institution seem to have no interest in the development of the school. The institution has witnessed continuous internal crises. But in all, it is a tragedy. A tragedy in the sense that Aro’s played important role in PTF and failed to build one structure or convert that institution to a federal institution or attract federal presence to that institution and to Aro as a whole. Who will say that it is not possible with the calibre of Aro sons and daughters both at home and in diaspora. Look at our roads, who will ever believe that our roads will be littered with potholes after all these long years of our participation in government. Who will ever believe that Eze Aro’s palace, the palace of the paramount ruler and the monarch of Arochukwu kingdom and the most revered traditional stool in Igbo land will still be like that till today without ultra-modern palace which will stand side by side with the old palace to reflect his position and the historical nature of the kingdom. Who will ever believe that a kingdom of this size, nature and history will still be struggling today to build a civic center and some people are even indifferent to that project. That is a tragedy. At this juncture, I congratulate His Royal Majesty, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, the Okpankpo Aro, the Nzuko Aro led by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, the Inyom Aro. Thanks to