FAYA LAMENTS LEADERSHIP INSENSITIVITY IN ARO KINGDOM

FAYA LAMENTS LEADERSHIP INSENSITIVITY IN ARO KINGDOM
By Ohiaerinwa Ogbonnaya Okoro
(Proof read)
The Federated Arochukwu Youths Association, FAYA has decried the spate of insecurity and leadership insensitivity in Arochukwu kingdom.
This assertion was made in Arochukwu recently when FAYA paid separate courtesy visits to Arochukwu royal fathers and Aro women as part of its activities during its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in Arochukwu.
Lead by its president, Mr.Alex Ikwuagwu, FAYA regretted the tragic incidents of murder and rape in the kingdom, abominations and sacrileges that could have been prevented had Okpankpo Arochukwu and other Aro traditional leadership institutions and structures been effective.
The Association noted that leadership vacuum exemplified by the dormancy of Okpankpo Aro explains why many Aro indigenes now resort to non-Aro traditional judicial system such as Arunsi Nde Ndu and Arunsi Ala Ogbaga in Chokonese, Mbaise, Imo State.
During their visit to Eze Ezeagwu, HRH Eze Okorafor Uror, FAYA president drew the attention of the royal father to the numerous problems in the kingdom, including general breakdown of law and order, general insecurity, increased crime rate, deteriorating, ever dithering leadership vacuum, brazen loss of Aro traditional values, youth activeness and extreme assertiveness. He singled out the Reformed Okpankpo which attracted wide media coverage, including a world press conference during its inauguration, for failing to live to expectation.
Responding, Eze Ezeagwu said, “Ndi Ichie Aro established Okpankpo, but the president-general (Nzuko Arochukwu) reformed Oklpankpo,” and asked, “Whose Nkpo are they holding?”
The royal father explained that there were nine members with special Nkpo with two branches who tried murder and other serious cases, but regretted that the reformed Okpankpo members schemed to usurp powers that did not belong to them, consequences which is the rush to Arunsi Nde Nduu, Arunsi Ala Ogbaga, Chokoneze, Mbaise in Imo State.
He also decried the excesses of youths in the kingdom; a situation he said reduces the enviable image of Arochukwu before the contemporary world.
Eze Ezeagwu lamented that youths in Arochukwu are involved in many atrocious crimes raging from stealing, delving into husband/wife quarrels to the extent of chaining them publicly and imposing arbitrary fines, as well as intimidating, exploiting and extorting money from innocent victims.
Mazi Okorafor Uror also condemned the attitude of some Aro sons and daughters who, instead of being worthy ambassadors of Aro, file along corridors of power to work against each other, thereby end up attracting nothing positive to Aro
He admonished FAYA leadership, as vanguard for youth reformation, to call its peers to order as it would be very dangerous if the present crop of youths mature to lead the community.
In a similar visit to Eze Ibom Isii, HRH Eze Dr Kanu Nwa Kanu, FAYA expressed serious concern over what appears to be a conspiracy of silence over deteriorating state of affairs in Aro, including murder of innocent woman and rape cases.
In response, Eze Ibom Isii assured the youths that despite the ‘comatose existence’ of Reformed Okpankpo Aro, “the three royal fathers are still meeting and handling matters” adding, “the Eze Ogos are also functioning. They are headed by Mazi Obasi Okoronkwo and they handle day-to-day administration of Aro. Far more serious and emergency ones are referred to and handled at Okpankpo level now thinned down to the three royal fathers”.
At the Eze Aro’s palace at Oror, Arochukwu, the Royal Assistant, Mazi (Rev) Joshua Kanu Oji, appreciated FAYA’s vision, mission, patriotism and commitment to Aro causes, expressing satisfaction that, with the patriotic zeal being displayed by the youths, “all hope are not lost”.
Delegates to the NEC meeting had earlier interacted with the leadership of Nzuko Aro (Women’s Wing) Arochukwu branch. FAYA seized the forum to express its condolences over the murder in cold blood of one of their own.
Responding, chairperson of Nzuko Aro (Women’s Wing) Home branch, Madam Ugo Okwara, thanked FAYA for considering it proper to relate with Aro women who she referred as those who always “fall victims countless time”.
Quoting an Aro adage, “men do the battle, but the women do the story telling,”
Madam Ugo Okwara enthused that “the reverse is now the case”, and asked, “Are there no men again in Aro?, Are there no elders? “Are there no leaders in Aro?”