The Abia State government has released a WHITE PAPER on the report of the Board of Inquiry into allegations of misconduct levelled against HRH, Eze Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke of Ibom Isii community in Arochukwu Kingdom, Arochukwu LGA of Abia State.
The Board which was inaugurated on the 16th of November, 2023, submitted her report to the Abia State government on January 8, 2024.
A statement signed by Abia State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu and made available to Journalists on Friday, said the State government duly noted and accepted the recommendations of the board to remove Eze Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke as the traditional ruler of the Ibom Isii community in Arochukwu Kingdom.
It directed the Ibom Isii kindred to immediately begin the process of producing a new Eze to replace the deposed monarch.
The state government also directed that Princes Eberechukwu Oji, one of the claimants to the Eze Aro stool be crowned immediately as the Eze Aro lX
The statement read in part:
“That HRH Eze Dr Kanu Nwa Kanu, Eze Ibom Isii of Arochukwu Kingdom is hereby sanctioned, and his certificate of recognition and Staff of Office as a traditional ruler in Abia State are hereby withdrawn immediately.
The Abia State government hereby affirms that Dr. Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke ceases to be the traditional ruler of Ibom Community / Eze Ibom Isii in Arochukwu Kingdom, Arochukwu LGA; and the Deputy Chairman, Arochukwu traditional rulers council, Abia State.
“The government directs the Ibom Isii kindred to immediately commence the process of producing a new Eze to replace the deposed one (Dr Kanu Nwa Kanu Eze Okereke).
“Government hereby notes and accepts the Board’s recommendation and declares the action of coronation/installation of Prince Godwin Kanu Idei as Eze Aro IX by HRH Eze Dr Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke, the deposed Eze Ibom Isii of Arochukwu Kingdom, null and void.
“Government upholds the selection process adopted by the Okennachi Kindred, which produced Prince Eberechukwu Oji as the Eze Aro Designate.
Government directs that Prince Eberechukwu Oji be crowned by the community as Eze Aro IX immediately”, Okey Kanu said.
However, an indigene of Aro in Arochukwu LGA told OsunDailyNG in confidence that the sacked traditional, Eze Kanu Nwa Kanu Okereke is still very popular among his supporters and family members in Ibom Isii.
