Paramount ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku and father of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), His Royal Majesty, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu, is dead.

The 86-year-old monarch is believed to have died since last but his death was kept a closely guarded secret. News Express had repeatedly tried to confirm the death for weeks but both IPOB authorities and Kanu’s kinsmen in Umuahia vehemently denied the news apparently because of tradition which forbids the announcement of the death of a monarch until certain traditional rites are observed.

However, the cat was finally let out of the bag this morning of Friday, December 6, 2019, when one of his sons, Emmanuel, confirmed that his father has passed away, adding that details would be made available later.

Meanwhile, the Ibeku Clan Eze-in-Council has officially announced the death of Eze Kanu as tradition demands.

Traditional Ruler of Okwulaga Afaraukwu, Eze Eddy Ibeabuchi, the representative of the Afaraukwu Eze-in-Council, confirmed the death, saying that further information would be disclosed to the public later.

The late Eze’s health deteriorated after the remains of his wife, Ugoeze Nene Kanu, was brought home from Germany where she passed on in August, sources said.

Disclosing the demise of his mother in a video broadcast that went virile, Kanu blamed his mother’s death on the shock she was exposed to following the invasion of their palace by the military during Python Dance II in Umuahia on September 14, 2017.

It is speculated that the same shock and that of the wife death, all may have contributed to the failing health and subsequent death of late Eze Kanu.

Meanwhile, the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu (a.k.a Bawas) has expressed the regret of Ibeku people, describing Eze Kanu as one of the respected traditional rulers in Ibeku land.

Also speaking on behalf of the state government, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, described it as a rude shock, putting into consideration his contributions to the development of his community in particular and Abia State in general.

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