What is in a Name? A lot have been said about this issue, though with divided opinions. Some people believe that whatever name a person bears have nothing to do with his/her personality, while others think that Names either directly or indirectly follows the bearer. Let the reader decide the school of thought he /she belong to.
However, to “Onye Igbo” Name matters and that is why, our Names are based on the circumstances to our birth.
It is my humble wish that the reader should see the point I want to raise with absolute open mind as a food for thought for any well meaning Okpofe citizen.
I have been searching for an appropriate and realistic answer to this issue. “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF EZE OHA AS THE TITLE FOR OUR ABLE TRADITIONAL RULER OF OKPOFE” I am not questioning the Wisdom and Integrity of our Fathers and Fore-fathers in their choice of the Title “EZE OHA” as the titlename of our Eze and Traditional Ruler. As a matter of fact I have not been able to find a true answer as to the symbolical and historical identity link of the Title to Okpofe as a community.
In view of this worried I will like to ask the following questions,
1) Is Eze Oha the most appropriate and befitting Title for our EZE.
2) How does the Title Eze Oha relate to our Ancestral Ideologies, Believes and Names like “EKIRI” “AJA ALA OKPOFE” “UMUOKO” UMUERIM etc?
3) What is the link between Eze Oha and Okpofe as the name of the Community?
The name Eze Oha has never portrayed a true identity and appealing Title for the Traditional Ruler of our great Community Okopfe, by my own standards. Sequel to these puzzles and going by the name (OKPO-OFE) literally and contextually I have the feeling that the name “OKPO” of Okpofe or “OFE” of Okpofe translates precisely in its totality and entirety and by intuitive interpretational approach the most appropriate Title for the Eze of Okpofe.
Realistically, “OKPO” or “OFE” without further prejudice speaks for the Great Crown Name for the Eze of Okpofe better than “EZE OHA” which I have not been able to link with our realities. I hereby, humbly submit to you well meaning citizens of Okpofe to evaluate these names and see how the actually relate to our cultural, traditional and ancestral names explicitly.
The Eze of Okpofe by all standard and with due respect to all stake holders and custodians of our traditions and leaders of the community is the head of the Community. It will be right therefore; from my own point of view that he bears a Traditional Title Name that correlates and have a casual interpretation with the name OKPOFE.
While awaiting your reactions to this opinion I will equally urge my readers to keep this idea at the back of their mind. It is only change that is permanent. No time is too late,could be now or in generations to come.
Long Live HRH Eze E.M.C Anyanka (Eze Oha I of Okpofe)
Long Live Okpofe Autonomous Community.