UMUONAJE QUARTERS


DIOKPA ONAJE

OGBEKE SQUARE, ASABA




Ref No:ONA/1/2002 Date: 13th JULY, 2002



His Royal Highness

Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien CFR, J.P

The Asagba of Asaba

Asagba’s Palace

Umuezei Quarter

Asaba.

Your Royal Highness,

Umuonaje Quarters at its meeting of Thursday, 27th June, 2002, read and considered your memo dated 27th May, 2002, circulated to members of your cabinet, and your News Letter on 15th June, 2002, and wish to comment as follows:

SECURITY: We support any arrangement made for the security of the Asagba, the Palace and Asaba in general, provided the activities of the Security Committee do not conflict with that of the government, that is, the Police. We do not however support the funding of such a committee, as we have no funds.

Put an end to Ogbueshi Okonji’s Indiscipline and Intransigencies:

We feel that this land issue between the Asagba and Obi Okonji can be handled according to our tradition and usage. If the Asagba feels that Obi Okonji is encroaching on his land, he can take the matter up at the Umuezei Quarters.

Asagba-in-Council: Umuonaje is completely opposed to the suspension of the meeting of the Asagba-in-Council until further notice.

From time immemorial the Council had existed and has been performing its functions positively. We do not find any thing wrong with the system to necessitate a change. It should therefore, be allowed to remain as it is undisturbed.

Suspension Meeting of the Otu-Ihaza until further notice: We are aware that Otu-Ihaza is an age-old institution in Asaba and has been playing a positive role in the government of the town. We are consequently not in support of the proposed restructuring of that body. They should be left to continue carrying out their functions as an important part of the government of Asaba unhindered.

Review of Traditional Sanctions to make them more effective: It is our view that this is the prerogative of the Otu-Ihaza of Asaba. If the Asagba has any proposal on this issue, he should submit same to that body.

Cancellation of the three Controversial Eze Titles, namely: Okonji, Utomi and Okolie and suspension of Eze title taking until further notice: We do not support the cancellation of the three Ezes as they had already completed the title taking even though they have small squabbles within their villages/quarters.

We refer to the Asagba-in-Council meeting of 12th May, 2002 where it was decided that a committee should be set up to look into the frictions between the Obis and their respective villages/quarters. The committee should be appointed from the Ebos concerned. The duty of the committees should be to settle the frictions and not to define qualifications of Eze Title aspirants and the rules governing Eze title taking as these are already well known. Eze title taking should therefore, continue without any hindrance whatsoever.

We consider it abominable for any body to refer to an Obi who has completed his Eze title taking as Ogbueshi. Umuonaje Quarters referred to Obi Mokogwu as Ogbueshi and was fined by the Otu-Ihaza and the fine was paid. We also consider it abominable to take an Eze to court as Obi Okolie Okonji was taken and subject him to the type of disgrace and humiliation he suffered.

Investigation of the Role of Otu-Ihaza in the Insecurity: We are satisfied with the role played by the Otu-Ihaza in the Eze title taking of Obi Okolie Okonji. If there is any other case against Obi Okonji, the Onus is on Umuezei Quarters to bring it up and prove it.

Establishment of Central Land Registry: Umuonaje is opposed to the establishment of a central land registry in Asaba. It will be recalled that the matter came up some years ago and it was totally rejected.

Urgent Attention to the Umuezei/Ezeafadia/Okwe/Oko Land Dispute, etc: Our view here it that those concerned should settle their land dispute in Court as other villages have been doing.

We advise that the next Asagba-in-Council meeting be held without fail, to enable the entire Asaba fined solution to the problem facing Asaba now.





OBI M.N. OFULUE FELIX MKPAYA

Diokpa Onaje Secretary Onaje



CC:

Diokpa Umuezei Quarters Asaba
Diokpa Ugbomanta Quarters Asaba
Diokpa Umuagu Quarters Asaba
Diokpa Umuaji Quarters Asaba
Otu-Ihaza of Asaba
Omu of Asaba
Ndi Eze of Asaba

Translated by Ojiaku - our thanks.
See the original letter




ONAJE RESPONSE
EZENEI RESPONSE
AJAJI RESPONSE
AGU RESPONSE
UGBOMANTA