Owerri Traditional Ruler Joins Ancestors

Sympathisers have been trooping to Owerri palace to commiserate with his family.  Njemanze battled efforts by successive governments to balkanise Owerri as he insisted he remained the paramount ruler of the state capital.

Indigenes and residents of Owerri have been thrown into deep mourning, following the sudden death of the traditional ruler of the town, Eze Emmanuel Emenjonu Njemanze, the Ozuru Igbo V of Owerri.

A trained pharmacist, Njemanze, who retired from the General Hospital, Owerri, reigned for 27 years before passing away at his temporary palace located in the New Owerri area of the state capital.

Although his official age was not confirmed, it was gathered that the late monarch was in his 80s when death came calling.

A fierce running battle between him and Governor Rochas Okorocha not only earned him a suspension from the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, but also led to the eventual splitting of Owerri into five autonomous communities with each having a traditional ruler.

Meanwhile, Okorocha on Tuesday paid a condolence visit to the family of the monarch in company with some senior government functionaries.

In his speech, Okorocha said that the Imo State government came to pay special condolences to the family of one of the foremost traditional rulers in the country whom he said had ensured that the dignity of the traditional institution was sustained.  He added that the death of the traditional ruler was a big loss to both the state and the nation at large.

He said, “To every sunrise there must be a sunset and for every man that is born, there must be death someday. This is a notorious fact that we have come to live with. Eze Njemanze was such a humble gentleman, who cared for his people. He was a man who said the truth no matter how bitter it was.

“Eze Njemanze was not into so much acquisition of wealth but he was a king who could sacrifice for others to live. He lived a life worthy of emulation. The biggest consolation to the family should be that he had left behind worthy successors. The joy of a dying father is to see a worthy successor.”

He urged the wife and the children of the departed monarch to continue to live in peace and maintain the principles the late king was known for.

Responding, the son of the late monarch, Prince Iheanyi Njemanze, thanked the governor for coming to sympathise with the family, adding that such an action only demonstrated how highly the governor placed his father.