Iyom Ifunanya Mokwuah, A Real Nwafo Enugwu- Unkwu na UmuNri!

A Call To Conscience: The Neglect of Nri Kingdom’s Ancient Culture, Truth, and Care for Humanity — Especially for Persons With Disabilities

REVISED EDITION

The Nri Kingdom, one of the most spiritually revered and oldest civilisations in Igboland, was built upon divine covenants — a sacred oath to uphold truth, justice, and the protection of humanity, especially the vulnerable, oppressed, and disabled. But today, I cry out not just as a leader in the global disability rights movement, but as a son of Igbo land — because our conscience is failing us.

As I have repeatedly written and spoken over the years, the once-sacred spiritual responsibilities of UmuNri have been shamefully abandoned. The erosion of our cultural and divine responsibilities is why the Nri Kingdom, once a moral lighthouse for Igbo civilization, is now being overtaken by communities like the Zulu Ubuntu — who are rediscovering their path and spiritual purpose, while we sink deeper into a pit of silence, shame, and impunity.

We must never forget the divine Nri responsibilities handed down to us, including:

1. Upholding Truth above all else — without compromise or cowardice.
2. Protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, especially those with traumatic brain injuries, albinism, dwarfism, or social exclusion.
3. Rescuing and cleansing victims of injustice — including outcasts (Osu/Ume), twins, and trafficking survivors.
4. Preserving our divine cultural heritage — Odinana and Omenana Nri — as sacred obligations.

It is with unbearable sorrow that I address the inhumane, criminal abuse suffered by Mr. Peter Mokwuah — also known as Nnekwu Nmonwu Achacha Iga Ndi AEI-USA/ECDU-USA. A man of multiple disabilities, a returnee from the U.S. who invested in his homeland in Enugwu-Ukwu, only to be nearly killed by his own blood relatives for the sake of greed.

What happened to Mr. Mokwuah is a national disgrace. He built a legacy abroad and answered the ancestral call to Akuluo Uno. But instead of respect and protection, he was abandoned, brutalized, and left for dead.

Let there be no doubt: the silence of our traditional institutions — AEI-USA, ECDU-USA, Ndi Ozo Mkpu, and our community leaders — is the real abomination. Where were our voices when one of our own was being tortured and dehumanized? Why did our temples of tradition and justice — the Imperial Majesty, Igwe na Eze UmuNri, Eze Idi OZO Mpku (Ambassador Plenipotentiary Ndi Enugwu-Unkwu in Diaspora), Ndi Nze na Ozo, Ndi Iyom, Umunnas, Christian clergies, Ndi Aka Ji Ofor — choose silence?

“Their silence is complicity. It is betrayal. It is the death of our conscience as a people.”

This is not what the Nri Kingdom, renowned for its God-given philosophy of truth, is known for. For example, Dr. Bennet Omalu—a true son of Enugwu-Ukwu in the Nri Kingdom—stood firm in the face of intense opposition to his valid and verifiable forensic discovery known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Despite efforts to silence him, he refused to give up and continued to speak the truth. Today, his groundbreaking achievement and legacy are saving lives, as victims of contact sports who suffer from multiple traumatic head injuries (a form of disability) are benefiting from his discovery.

In the same vein, Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, a son of Enugwu-Ukwu, a childhood polio victim and a person with multiple head injuries, was among global disability leaders who successfully advocated for the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on December 13, 2006. Nigeria, through the efforts of Umu Nri, signed and ratified the Convention and its Optional Protocol to protect the rights and dignity of 1.3 billion persons with disabilities globally, including 35.5 million Nigerians.

Umu Nri, led by Chief Ufom, were also pioneers of Nigeria’s National and International Disability Civil Rights Movement. They played a direct role in the advocacy that led to the passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. Comrade Thomas Chidi Iwotor, another distinguished Nwa Nri, also contributed significantly to these historic achievements.

It is gladdening that Ifunanya, a proud daughter of Enugwu-Ukwu in the Nri Kingdom, has joined these heroes by performing the ancient gods’ calling, Nri Kingdom service to humanity, without being aware that she is answering the call placed by God on the Nri Kingdom.

From today, I am calling on the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, JONAPWD, and other stakeholders to immediately investigate the abuse of Mr. Mokwuah. This case falls under our jurisdiction. We will not rest until justice is served.

Furthermore, I am calling on the leadership of Ndi Otu IYOM Enugwu-Ukwu and all custodians of tradition to bestow upon Ms. Ifunanya Mokwuah the highest honour of the land — the prestigious NRI IYOM title. She has earned it through truth, through blood, and through fire.

She is, without doubt, a true heroine whose courageous and selfless actions should be celebrated and encouraged—not criticized, as is already being done by some Enugwu-Ukwu leaders.

In stepping up as a first responder during a time of grave family crisis, she acted with bravery and compassion. It is important to acknowledge that she too is deeply traumatised by the events and deserves access to professional psychological support and counselling to aid her recovery.

It is incumbent upon the leaders, sons, and daughters of Enugwu-Ukwu—both at home and in the diaspora—to reflect deeply and devise mediative and proactive strategies that prevent such a disgraceful situation from ever occurring again. The recent developments not only tarnish our image globally but also stand in direct contradiction to the noble values and heritage we claim to uphold.

“Let Ifunanya’s courage be the spark that awakens our collective soul. Let her story be a turning point for the Nri Kingdom.”

Let us rise, my people. Let the Nri Kingdom rise again — not just in name, but in action.

Let us return to truth. Let us protect the weak. Let us cleanse our land of impunity and cruelty.

Enough is enough.

May the gods of our ancestors protect Nnekwu Nmonwu Peter Mokwuah, and may they bless nnekwu Ada, Ifunanya, for rekindling the sacred fire of our lineage.