The late monarch of Arochukwu (Eze Aro), His Majesty, Mazi Vincent Ogbonnaya Okoro, CFR, has been described as a shinning light who left remarkable proofs for the Aro community before his passing on.
This was at the virtual press conference of the National rites of passage of the late Eze Aro, on March 26 2021, which AF-NEWS participated.
Listing some of the achievements of the monarch, Prof. James Ijioma, said an imposing civic centre was completed under the late monarch, he re-instituted the Oka Nkpa Aro institution, he facilitated an all Aro national conference which took the monarch to Igbo lands and abroad.
“During his reign of 25 years, he was a shinning light. Under him, we celebrated Aro 202 which was to re-enact the anglo world of 1902.
Responding on the succession of the monarch, Mazi Azubuike Okoro explained that the kingship of Aro Kingdom is hereditary and does not give room for contestant.
“there is an Aria Nzu(someone who stands in absence) who stays for one year acting as king. The ruling class would after then, make a selection and present to the people”.
Buttressing further, Mazi Ugochukwu Okorafor, chairman publicity committee, Eze Aro National right passage, postulated that the Aria Nzu is one of the key elements that has kept Aro together.
“ each kindred of Aro has roles it plays to ensure that the succession is successful.
“it is a way of saying , we are not in a hurry to replace you. We allow the corpse to decay before another can emerge, that’s the symbolism of Aria nzu”.
Prof Ijioma while responding to how the Aro community stayed together even in the face of autonomy, explained that the 19 villages that make up the community are inter-woven and cannot be split.
“the villages are so inter-woven that it is difficult to break the kindred. Trying to do so will be an exercise of futility. Every Aro love to be called an Aro, even when we leave our community, we still remain Aro”.
Lending his voice, Ugochukwu Okorafor, added that music and social arrangements of the people brings them together.
“we also have the Ekpe society and wherever any Aro is, he would love to come home to participate and also take his rights although the church has tried to water down some of these cultures”
Speaking on the nature of the Arochukwu roads, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa regretted that some factors has limited the efforts made by Aro sons to ensure that the roads are fixed.
“we have had so many sons who has tried to put the roads in the budget. Its either that it does not appear in the budget, or it is not properly funded when it appears”.
He also pointed lack of executive power from state or federal government as a limiting factor
“we need this power to get these roads done and all this injustice and discrimination will be sorted out the moment we can get influence from the executive level, it will be sorted” he assured.
His Majesty, late Mazi Okoro will be laid to rest on April 5, 2021 at the community’s civic centre with 24 gunshot salutes.
