By Onuchukwu Hamilton

The Amanator Okporo Autonomous Community in Orlu LGA, Imo State, has once again rejected the claim of the late Eze Ibenye Ugbala’s sons to the throne, as the people massively celebrated the New Yam Festival of their recognized traditional ruler, HRH Eze Francis Ujagba.

Despite warnings from community leaders and a standing High Court judgment stopping Ugbala’s sons from parading themselves as rulers, they still tried to organize their own new yam festival on August 30th, but their event was ignored, as both Amanator Okporo and other sister communities in Orlu attended only the celebration hosted by Eze Ujagba on August 30th and 31st.

It was gathered that Eze Ujagba’s 2025 New Yam Festival pulled an unprecedented crowd and plethora of very distinguished captains of industries, featuring various cultural dance groups, masquerades, and a moonlight Suya party.

The event also featured the commissioning of new standard houses built for the poor under Eze Ujagba’s “Operation No Mud Houses in Amanator Okporo” project.

Speaking at the event held in the Community Central Square, the leader and patron for the Association of Okporo Sons in Diaspora, Chief Izuchukwu Agu, hinted that the linking roads and solar powers in the whole area, were provided by Eze Ujagba.

Besides the infrastructural development, he also hinted that he has all the good qualities to make them happy.

It would be recalled that a recent court judgment confirmed that the Ezeship in Amanator Okporo is rotational, not hereditary. The court ruled that Ugbala’s son risks court contempt and community sanction, following a self parade as the community Traditional Ruler.

Aside the subsisting court judgment, the Traditional Chief Priest, three Presidents-General, the oldest men and youth leaders of all the Autonomous Communities that are still under Okporo Traditional Society such as the Isiala Okporo, the Amanator Okporo, the Udogadi Okporo Autonomous Communities had warned that the Son of the late HRH, Eze Ibenye Ugbala should obey the Court Order and desist from causing commotion in the community by trying to hold unto the throne which has constitutionally been shifted to the rightful village called the Umuebele village.

According to reports, this recent peaceful High Court Judgment upholds the existing rotating kingship as enshrined in the Amanator Okporo constitution hence, the sons of the late monarch are fingered to have reneged and renewed the tension in the area by plotting to organize the community New Yam Festival when there is an official order that has transferred royalty to another village where a Traditional Ruler has constitutionally emerged and has been crowned.

This situation which is considered as unusual, may according to reports, compel the three communities in Okporo to disassociate themselves from both the sons of Ibenye Ugbala and whoever fans their embers.

It was also gathered that the three communities in Okporo issued a press statement mandating the sons of Ibenye Ugbala to stop further court actions and embrace the Umuebele village, where the new Traditional Ruler has rightfully emerged.

The Presidents-General of the three communities, Hon. Emeka Oguaju, Chief Sir John Egeolu and Engr. Nwaugo told newsmen that the duely signed communique, was subjected to rigorous processes before its signing by the Okporo clan heads, the apex traditional Chief Priest.

Community leaders stressed that since the late Eze Ibenye Ugbala became king in 1978 through election, the stool has never been hereditary.

They also reminded everyone that before Okporo was divided into three communities, everything was shared in common, including kingship.

Moreover, the man who started with the Late Monarch in the same year, serving as the palace Secretary for twelve years and is still living as one of the oldest men, stated that there was nothing like an agreed or constitutional hereditary kingship.

He mentioned that like the two other sister Communities (Isiala Okporo and Udogadi Okporo) with rotating kingship, Amanator Okporo never dreamt of any hereditary kingship.

Meanwhile, the Community of Amanator Okporo through their leaders, challenged the kingship staff which the Late Monarch’s son was alleged to have illegally received.

The Orlu High Court in its recent un-ostentatious judgment via suit No:HOR/35/2025, stated that the plaintiffs have proven their case on a pre-ponderance of evidence, with the court declaring that Amanator Okporo has a Constitution which must be respected and enforced.

In addition, the Court ordered that Ibenye Ugbala’s son is not qualified to be presented or issued a staff of office as the Eze because he did not participate in the Ezeship election conducted by Amanator Okporo Town Union.

It restrained the State Government, the Attorney General, the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from issuing or endorsing the issuance of the staff to the Late Monarch’s son or any other person who did not take part in the Ezeship election of Amanator.