Ibusa Political System

The government of Ibusa is arranged into three main hierarchies: the smallest unit called the government of the Umunna, followed by the government of the Ogbe and the highest, the government of Ibusa.

The minimal patrilineage called the Umunna or Idumu are in the hands of the oldest man in the umunna called Diokpa-umunna and the council of elders. The council of elders is made up of the Ndi Eze, the Ndiichie or Nkpa Alo and grown up Mgba Nkpisi and the Omu of the unit if any. This governing body is refered to as the Diokpa-umunna-in-council.

The function of this council is to see that; all public affairs of the unit are properly conducted. The Diokpa of the unit holds the ofo or political and ritual authority and the decision of the council is carried out as that which is sanctioned by the Diokpa.

Similarly, the government of the Ogbe is controlled by the Diokpa-Ogbe-in-council. The house of the Diokpa-Ogbe is the centre of the political life of the Ogbe. The Diokpa-Ogbe holds the ofo of the Ogbe, and the decision of his council is carried out as that which is sanctioned by him.

The government of Ibusa is structurally similar to that described above except that it is larger than that of the umunna or the Ogbe. The public affairs of Ibusa are in the hands of Diokpa-Ibusa. He is the oldest man in the town. By implication, the Diokpa of the town is always a Diokpa of one of the Ogbes.

The Diokpa is not elected or selected. It is not hereditary either. The criteria for eligibility are:

• The father of a Diokpa must be a free Ibusa man.
• The candidate must be the oldest man in the town.
• The candidate must be mentally active.
• The candidate must have lived an upright life, that is, he must have not committed any offence in the category of abomination. alu

All Diokpa Ibusa always undergo long periods of political apprenticeship as Diokpa of their umunna and Diokpa of their Ogbe during which time they are properly schooled in the customs and practices, and procedures of Ibusa system of government.

The Diokpa of Ibusa is the symbol of unity of all Ibusa; he is also the focus of political activities. He does not rule alone. He rules with a council which is a cabinet of elders made up of the ten Diokpa-Ogbe and their nine Oga (speakers); the three traditional war chiefs – the Odogwu, Uwolo, Iyase: the Ikwelle; and agreed number of members of Ndi-ichie and Ndi Eze from each Ogbe.The elders acting with the Diokpa Ibusa is referred to as Diokpa-Ibusa-in-council.

The Diokpa-Ibusa-in-council is the highest political authority in traditional Ibusa political system. The Diokpa sanctions the decisions of his council and that of IZU Ibusa with the Ofo. The decision is regarded as final and sacred until it is either revoked or re-stated by the Diokpa.

The Diokpa-Ibusa-in-council is the only body that has the constitutional rights to summon IZU IBUSA, which represents a cross section of the whole of Ibusa. Only IZU IBUSA can proclaim orders, issue decrees, make and review laws, hear appeal cases, interpret Ibusa's tradition, declare war and make peace.

The IZU IBUSA consists of all the members of the Diokpa-Ibusa-in-council, all the Eze men in Ibusa, all the Ndichie, all the Omu, the head of the various groupings mentioned above and any man of adult age that has taken the Nkpisi title.

In IZU IBUSA, the elders will start a debate and any one can stand up and talk. After all views are heard, the Diokpa-Ibusa through his Oga will order the Ndi Nze present to go aside and deliberate over the issues and bring back a decision. He may order all persons from a named age-grade upwards, to go out and deliberate. The nature of the matter will determine the body called upon to deliberate. This type of deliberation is called Ipu Ume.

The Oga in the name of the Diokpa announces the decision to the public. The decision becomes binding. If the deliberation is heavily booed, the Diokpa may decide to adjourn the IZU to another time or he may appoint a new group to go and make another deliberation in the light of popular opinion.

The eldest men are the holders of Ofo – the staff of authority and political power. They derive wisdom from their age and long experience in the art of government and prestige from the fact that they have taken the Alo title, which is the minimal indication of success in Ibusa social, economic, ritual and political life.