By Brown Chimezie

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It was a regal display of royalty and the best of the Igbo culture and tradition when Igbo royal fathers from Igboland stormed Benin Republic, recently, to see how the Igbos were faring in that country.
Led by the Chairman of the SouthEast Traditional Rulers Council, Eze (Dr) Eberechi Dick, the royal fathers were also in Benin Republic to pay a special courtesy visit to Eze Ebuka Josephat Onunkwo, Eze Ndi Igbo of the Republic of Benin, a man they said they have heard so much about.
On the entourage of Eze Eberechi Dick were their Royal Majesties, Eze Augustine Ogidinta and Eze (Dr) Ralph Nwaorgu. Also on the entourage were Eze Nwabueze Ohazulike (OON), who is the Eze Ndi Igbo of Lagos State and the pioneer President of the Association of Ndi Eze Ndi Igbo in the Diaspora and Eze John-Greg Ezebuadi.
Eze Eberechi Dick said that the royal fathers were happy to see Igbo culture and tradition thriving all over the world, including Benin Republic. He gave credit to the Ezes living in the diaspora for this. He assured Ndi Eze Ndi Igbo that Ezes in Igboland would continue to support them and to pray for them. In his word  “Ezes in the Diaspora are our children and Ezes in Igboland are solidly behind them.  Though Ilomuanya did not want to see Ezes in the Diaspora, we changed all that when we came in.”
He, nevertheless, urged Ezes in the Diaspora to respect their Ezes at home and to always honour them.  He also urged them not to challenge the traditional leadership of their host countries or states.
Eze Dick expressed his delight for the unity that existed within the Igbo community in Benin Republic and praised Eze Ebuka Onunkwo for this. He urged Igbos living in Benin Republic to continue to rally round Eze Ebuka.
Eze Eberechi Dick, who is also the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State promised to take back the positive impression of Igbos in Benin Republic to the rest of his colleagues in Igboland.
He urged Igbos to continue to maintain the peace and to also continue to live in harmony and mutual co-existence with their host and others. He reminded them of the need to bring their investments home.
On his part, Eze Ebuka Onunkwo elatedly promised the visiting royal fathers of the continued loyalty of Diaspora Ezes to the traditional institution in Igboland. He also promised to re-invigorate on the existing bonds of love, unity and understanding within the Igbo community in Benin Republic.
Eze Ohazulike described Eze Eberechi Dick as fatherly, thoughtful and composed. He assured him that Ezes outside Igboland will not do anything or conduct themselves in any way that will make him regret his support for them.
Present at the reception were also Members of the cabinet of Eze Ebuka Onunkwo which included: Chief Mba Mathew (Traditional Prime minister), Chief Vincent Umana (Assistant traditional Prime Minister), Chief Okereke Uneke (Igbo leader), Chief Jones Iheanacho (Palace Secretary). Chief Kenedy Okoro, Chief Chidi Alozie (Palace Protocol) and  chief Anthony Ife (Igbo Patron.
The visiting royal fathers were treated to a gala night of traditional Igbo music as performed by the Late Chief Osita Osadebe, Oliver De Coque and others.