BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
THE eldest man in Ezza Ezekuna clan, which is the oldest among the clans in the Abakaliki block of Ebonyi State, His Royal Majesty, Ngwuta-Nwali JohnPaul has passed on at the age of 135.
Ngwuta-Nwali, who is otherwise referred to as Ogurenya Ezza (eldest in Ezza clan), was honoured with the title in 2014 at the clan’s anscetral home, Nchionu Okpoku Ezekuna, in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
Ogurenya Ezza was said to have gone to be with his ancestors on September 16, 2020, but his death has just been made public according to tradition.
The Office of the Ogurenya Ezza is one of the major traditional institutions in Ezza land.
THE POINT gathered that Johnpaul Ngwuta-Nwali was the 3rd Ogurenya Ezaa since the coming together of Ezza Union in 2009.
He succeeded Nworie Aloke of Idembia, who died on May 6, 2013. Aloke succeeded Nwokporo Ogbule of Oriuzor, who died on February 13, 2010.
Ngwuta-Nwali was the first ever Ogurenya Ezaa to be a Christian of the Roman Catholic church till his death.
He will therefore be buried by the entire Ezaa people, the Roman Catholic Church and Ebonyi State, on February 18, 2021, at his Ogboji Center, Ezzaegu residence in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
Reacting to the news of his death in a press statement, the President and Spiritual Director of Ezza Union, an umbrella organisation of all sons and daughters of the clan, both at home and in the diaspora, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Enogu, said, “In spite of this difficult time, please mark your diaries and let’s join the Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr M. N. Okoro, his immediate family, the entire Ezza Ezekuna clan and Ebonyi State at large to accord him a befitting burial.
“May Ogurenya Ezza Jonhpaul Ngwuta-Nwali rest in peace. Amen.
“Remember, if we don’t honour our own, others will not honour us. If we don’t regard our own, others will not regard us. God bless you all.”
