An illustrious son of Mbaise, a member of Ezeji Mbaise, Ezeji Chidi Nwoga has stated that the real authority from man and God. Is what makes one a member of Ezeji.
Ezeji Nwoga made the assertion while speaking to Silvernews on what it takes for one to become an Ezeji in Mbaise, the prons and cons, their function as well as the role they play especially in the annual Iriji Mbaise Cultural Festival.
The Ezeji who hails from Umueze Umuokirika in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area disclosed that the association goes by different names which includes: Ezeomumu, Ezeuba, Ezechinyere, Ezechigoziri, Eze anagjhi azo azo among others.
He however, posted that among all these names, the main name they are being referred to by the people is Ezechigoziri which means that God has actually, favoured the person with a bountiful harvest of yam.
Still speaking, he highlighted the first process by which one can be a member which states that the individual should get a certain number of Ekweji like100 tubers and above and attaining that features does not come by power as he emphasise, that one can plant the whole of local government but could not get an Ekweji.
He noted that an individual can equally, plant up to 3 or 4 plots of land and God would give the person multiplication and wealth as the yam would become surplus then, the person would get 100 Ekwejis hence, the reason they are referred to as Ezechigoziri and other names that has to do with Chi (God)
He reiterated that the second stage is by placing the different tubers branch by branch till it reached the level of one of the 5 sons Of Mbaiseland where the whole process would go under inspection,officially open as the head of the Ezeji would hold the cap over the person’s cap while the people question. about the person.
The head would ask vital questions about the person’s character, if the person is a hypocrite, a liar, an arm robber, a back biter among others and if anybody admits to any of the mentioned negative characters, the process is hereby suspended.
He further insisted that for one to become an Ezeji, he should have a responsibility to the god of yam, the chi that blessed them, gave them the entitlement to live, produce, eat, as well as survive and support the god though, not in the fetish paganist way of their forefathers which was misinterpreted in a way,
He however, reiterated that with the current christianity, the process is just to say thank you father for blessing them, as they eat the first fruit which is the new yam festival proper done on the 15th August of ever year.
