How can Arọ supercede Nri when Arọ literally is a copycat of Nri, but backed by military?
Eze Arọ godlike status is literally a copy of Eze Nri godlike status. Arọ's Ịchị is literally a copycat of Nri's Ịchị system, but militarised version.
Nri's influence gave birth to religion in which Arọ copied and mixed with that of Ibom, but here you are, denying facts because you don't like the truth about Nri's power and influence.
Arọ needed military to be powerful because nobody truly feared them except their money and armory. They commanded no distinct respect than fear.
Nri's reign gave birth to thousands of villages and towns, while Arọ couldn't even match it by quarter. Honestly, no disrespect to ndị Arọ, but who are they in terms of nobility and influence? They simply commanded fear, which is why their neighbours collaborated with the British to overthrow them.
That wasn't the case for Nri. Even till today, no we'll documentation of Arọ, despite them encountering a writing system earlier, yet Nri's evidence is documented in ornaments, crafts and elitism that has lasted for over a thousand years.
Respect to Arọ, but they cannot lace the feet of Nri. When Eze Nri walks, people tremble, not because of fear that they might be kidnapped and sold to slavery like ndị Arọ does, but because he exumes royalty, sainthood, earth, and life all at once. Eze Nri was seen the same way Pope is seen today.
Your Aro is literally guided by the four market days, thanks to ancient farmers of Nri, for their wonderful invention. Kemgbe Eri Ka Nri Ji Dị Nsọ.
NRI was NEVER seen as the spiritual leader of my OWN part of Igboland.
I am an ARO man !
Pls when speaking on culture we must include context and nuances and not broad generalizations.
Respect to what Nri represented in their own part of Igboland.
But ARO supercedes in physical might and spiritual communion.