ỌHA NZE NA ỌZỌ ABBA AMA-ANỌ - Nwangele LGA, Imo State, Nigeria
ỌHA NZE NA ỌZỌ ABBA AMA-ANỌ - Nwangele LGA, Imo State, Nigeria
Written by: Nze Dr. C.K.C. ANYANJO-EWUZIE (Nkunyiriuguru) Onyi Ishi
Nze na ozo is as old as the Igbo man, and in extension, as old as Abba, the offspring of Uburu, who emigrated from Abbam in Ohafia LGA in the present Abia state where the great Ekpe trado-cultural organization holds sway.
The arrival of Uburu at Ogbugba Nkume in the place called Abba today and embracing of Nze na ozo trado-cultural organization marked the begining of Nze na Ozo in Abba.
Nze na Ozo is a trado-cultural organization that from inception, governs Igbo communities along with ndi Diokwara. As Nze na Ozo in Igbo land, Oha Nze na Ozo Abba amano ensures smooth and peaceful co-existence in the communities. It acts as the final arbital of cases as it is said in Igbo parlance: "Ahu nze, ebie okwu".
They insist that ascendency to the Ezeship stool must be through the laid down tradition of ndi Igbo and in extension Abba. This entails that every traditional ruler must first become onye Nze na Ozo before ascending to become a traditional ruler of any community in Abba as has been of the old.
Even before the coming of the white man with his paramount rulership, the diokwara of the first family of the town, who himself must be an Nze, leads the community. With the coming of the white man and his paramount rulership even subsequently, the traditional rulership in Abba had always gone through the traditional ladder of becoming Nze na Ozo first, before ascending the traditional rulership stool of the town.
For example, the first paramount ruler of Abba, HRM, Chief Nze Asuzu Ekpe-Ewuzie (Otumkpurumgbona-achumba of Abba), HRH, Eze Nze Madukwem Unaka (Ezeahurukwe and Uburu I of Abba), HRH, Eze Nze Ononenyi Uzoma (Ekiti II of Ekitiafor Abba) and HRH, Eze Nze Nduwueze Maduawuchukwu (Ezenwurogu and Uburu II of Abba). For ndi nze Abba, ceremonial Ezeship is an aberration and strange to Igbo tradition and culture. The insistence has been na Ome na ala ndi Igbo ga-adiriri.
They ensure the maintenance of customs, norms and tradition of the people which include Emume igbu nkwu, Emume iri ji, iku ekere mgba, masquerade displays and insistence on the speaking of Igbo language and dressing on Igbo attires at all times, etc.
For Oha Nze na Ozo Abba amano, it is exceptionally unique, adhering to their mantra of PRESERVATION, PROTECTION and PROPAGATION (P.P.P)of the tradition and culture of Abba people. It is so structured that it has no inclination to any religion. Here, religion is purely personal. Thus, religious propagation, using the platform is forbidden. So, it admits men with different beliefs, including Christianity, Islam, Goddianism, judaism, hinduism, Budaism, etc, provided such entrants fulfill the conditions for admission. Partisan politics is treated the same way as religion.
Apart from performing the role of ensuring the peaceful co-existence of ndi Abba nile, Oha Nze na Ozo has also intervened by ensuring that the people are secured through their iyi ofo when issue of insecurity arises.
Being second to none in Igbo land and studded with men that have humane heart, Nze na Ozo went beyond the ordinary to bring to fruition the abrogation of the obnoxious, demeaning, dehumanization of Ume, Osu and Ohu caste system when called upon by Abba people; a process that took over three months to accomplish on 3rd Novermber, 2019, by the proclamation of the abolition at 4:30 pm, by Onye ishi Oha Nze na Ozo Abba amano, Nze Dr. Chijioke Kenneth Chinurunko Anyanjo-Ewuzie at Okpu Nwabana.
This act was heralded by 21 gun salutes in all the four communities that make up Abba clan, and sealed by His Grace (Amarachi), Arc Bishop Anthony Obinna with Christian services and rituals on 27th December, 2019, after HRH, Eze Nze Ononenyi Uzoma had asked the victims for forgiveness on behalf of the perpetrators of this heinous practice.
As at today, Oha Nze na Ozo Abba amano is spare-heading the healing process. In strong terms, Oha Nze na Ozo Abba amano embodies men of different professional leanings; who have excelled in their chosen careers. Men who have clear vision, dedicated and are determined to achieving the mission (P.P.P) of this oldest, most prestigious, aristocratic and noble trado-cultural organization of the Igbo man. Indeed, Oha Nze na Ozo Abba Amano moves on.
*Historical Edifices*: The palace of the first paramount ruler of Abba. Azuzu Chief Nze Azuzu Ekpe (Otumkpurumgbo Na Achumba), originally a mud house built by direct communal labor in 1940. The roof remained the same and does not leak water up till this date.
Cultural Info