umuihuocha reaffirms legitimate Eze elect

UMUIHUOCHA TO GREATMAN UGWUADI, NZUKO, AND OTHERS: STOP MISLEADING THE PUBLIC — WE ALREADY HAVE A LEGITIMATE EZE-ELECT!

Date: June 12, 2025

The Umuihuocha Autonomous Community of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, through its constitutionally recognized Town Union — the Umuihuocha-Obohia Development Union (UDU) — categorically disowns any self-sponsored or media-driven claim to the traditional stool by Mr. Greatman Ugwuadi or any body acting outside due process, including the group calling itself Nzuko Umuihuocha. Umuihuocha is not a comedy show, and no comedian — no matter how popular — will be allowed to drag the sacred Ezeship stool into mockery or confusion.

What Are the Irrefutable Facts?

1. Commencement of the Ezeship Process:
   Following the one-year mourning period of our late Eze B. F. Alilonu, the recognized President General of Umuihuocha, High Chief Basil Obasi, officially flagged off the Ezeship succession process on December 27, 2024, in line with our community’s 2007 Constitution (as amended).
2. Sale of Expression of Interest (EOI) Forms:
   The Ezeship Screening and Election Committee, empowered by Article 7 of our Constitution, sold forms between January 28 and February 15, 2025.
3. Disqualification of Mr. Greatman Ugwuadi:
   Mr. Greatman purchased a form on February 5, 2025. However, his submission failed to meet basic requirements. He resides in the USA, provided a USA phone number, and declared USA residency — all contrary to Article 5(f) of our Constitution, which mandates that any aspirant must be officially resident in Nigeria. He also failed to meet the requirement under Article 3(c) that the candidate must not owe allegiance to another country.
4. Illegal Presentation Attempt:
   Just one day after purchasing his form, Mr. Greatman was unlawfully presented at the LGA Secretariat by a suspended town union secretary, Mr. Dandy-Canice Orji, and Mr. Uchechukwu Wisdom — an aide to the LGA Chairman — on February 6, 2025. The PG refused to participate, citing constitutional timelines and illegality.
5. Entry and Selection of Eze-elect Paul Onyegbule Obasi:
   On February 14, 2025, Mr. Paul Onyegbule Obasi, in response to a unanimous endorsement from Umuofum village (entitled per Article 2c(v) as the next to produce an Eze), obtained and completed the EOI form. He passed the full screening process and was unanimously selected during a plebiscite on March 29, 2025. He was officially presented at the LGA Secretariat on April 15, 2025.
6. Governor’s Rejection of Greatman’s Application:
   Governor Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma declined to issue Mr. Greatman any certificate or staff of office, citing his failure to follow due process.
7. Post-Burial Staging and False Claims of Endorsement:
   Prior to the burial of Nze na Ozo Vitus Obasi — a respected statesman and mentor to many, including Mr. Greatman Ugwuadi — Mr. Ugwuadi had publicly announced via a WhatsApp group platform his intention to donate a cow and ₦1 million naira in honour of the deceased. This gesture was acknowledged by the family of the late Nze na Ozo Vitus Obasi.
   
   However, during the church outing reception held at the residence of the deceased, Mr. Greatman posed for a casual photograph with Mr. Paul Onyegbule Obasi, the legitimate and government-presented Eze-elect of Umuihuocha. There were no official community stakeholders present at that gathering, nor was it recognized as a formal event of the Town Union or Ezeship Committee.
   
   It is therefore misleading and desperate for Mr. Greatman to now circulate the photo publicly and falsely portray it as an ‘endorsement’ by the very Eze-elect who constitutionally and procedurally emerged as the community’s chosen traditional ruler. It defies logic and precedent that a man disqualified for failing to meet basic residency and documentation requirements — and rejected by the Governor for breaching due process — would be ‘endorsed’ by the legitimate candidate already officially presented by the government-approved Town Union body.

What Do the Laws and Constitution Say?

• Article 2c(v) of the Umuihuocha Constitution (2007): Stipulates that succession must rotate among villages, and Umuofum is next in line after the late Eze’s village.
• Article 3(c): A candidate must be resident in Nigeria and must not owe allegiance to a foreign nation.
• Article 5(d & f): A candidate shall not be a full-time public servant, and must reside in Nigeria before assuming the throne.
• Article 7(d, e, g): Only the recognized Town Union (UDU) has authority to present the Eze-elect and is empowered to resist any parallel or illegal actions.
• Section 8 & 12 of the Imo State Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law: Only a community’s government-recognized Town Union is legally empowered to conduct the Ezeship process. Any parallel attempt is null and void.

Final Warning to Nzuko Umuihuocha and All Parallel Actors

Let it be known far and wide that the body recognized by law and the Imo State Government for handling Ezeship matters in Umuihuocha is the Umuihuocha-Obohia Development Union (UDU). Any parallel body, including the so-called “Nzuko Umuihuocha”, has no authority to endorse or present any candidate for recognition. Attempts to deceive the public, sponsor propaganda, or misuse photos and media for illegitimate claims will be met with firm legal resistance.

UMUIHUOCHA IS A HISTORIC AND PEACE-LOVING COMMUNITY — NOT A COMEDY STAGE. No one, not even a celebrated comedian, can turn our sacred traditions into a publicity stunt. Let us respect the community’s voice and the rule of law.

Voice of Umuihuocha
(Official Blog of the Umuihuocha-Obohia Development Union)