…As chieftaincy tussle festers
By Onyedika Agbedo
AS the crisis in Ojoto community, the headquarters of Idemili South Council of Anambra State, over the selection of a new traditional ruler (Igwe) continues to fester, the Regency Council Ojoto has described as “falsehoods, misleading publications and intentional misinformation” the claim that an Igwe-elect has been selected for the community. .
The Regency Council, which gave the clarification in a recent advertorial in the media signed by the Palace Secretary, High Chief Anumba Joe Obimma, noted that Ojoto was still running regency following the demise of Igwe Augustine Obidiwe.
“This fact was re-confirmed by an Anambra State Inter/Intra Community Conflicts Resolution Committee which sat on Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Anambra State Command of Nigeria Police Force. The Committee under the chairmanship of the Anambra State Commissioner of Police had all the heads of Anambra State Command (DSS, NDLEA, NCDC, ARMY, NAVY) in attendance including the state secretary of APGA, SSA to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Director of Media in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, HRM Igwe Chukwuemeka Ike, the suspended PG, Engr Edwin Umeghalu, Chief Anthony Nzelu, Chief Daniel Ilonze, Chief Samuel Nwafor Ezimo, Chief Dennis Adindu Okafor, Chief Lucius Okafor, Mr. Emeka Ezekwelu, High Chief Romeo Anyisia, High Chief Anumba Joe Obimma, High Chief Chidi Nwabunike, High Chief Amobi Adirika and Chief Anthony Esomoneze and others,” Obimma said.
Obimma further staed that “the selection process for choosing a candidate to fill the vacant Igwe Ojoto stool initiated by Ojoto South Development Union based on letter written and forwarded to her by Enugo Village meeting was suspended on April 29, 2017 on the instruction of the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and following the initiation of Suit No: HID/111/17 between Dennis Okafor & anor V Emeka Ezekwelu & ors, challenging the selection process. Since then, the community has placed further selection process in limbo to await the outcome of the court case now pending at the High Court Ogidi Idemili Judicial Division and further directive from the Anambra State Government.”
He noted that the Ojoto Akanasato Union has not furthered and would not further the process of selecting a candidate for the vacant Igwe Ojoto stool until further directive is received from the Anambra State Government to that effect.
Sunday Sun investigations revealed that the state government had suspended the process of selecting an Igwe-elect for the community following an alleged disruption of the process on April 29, 2017, when it was initially slated.
It was gathered that following the development, High Chief Annie Okonkwo had petitioned the state governor, over alleged “tacit support being enjoyed by a very tiny cabal who are bent on a trampling the Igweship slection process and entrenching brigandry and anarchy in the town.”
In the petition titled “Selection Process for Filling the Vacant Igwe Stool of Ojoto”, Okonkwo had averred thus: “It has become very crucial at this point sir, to bring your attention to the germane issue relating to the above titled petition to enable an informed opinion and decision that will not only accord fair play and justice but avert brewing tension within our beloved community.
“Ojoto town is made up of eight villages divided by a river into two segments known as Ojoto-uno and Ojoto-Obiofia. By established norm and constitution, the Igwe stool is rotated between the two segments such that at the demise of Igwe Obidiwe who hailed from Ojoto-uno, it became the turn of Ojoto-Obiofia to produce the next Igwe.
“By constitution, the four villages which make up Ojoto-Obiofia ceded the Igweship slot to the most senior of the villages; Enugo village. Enugo village has through their internal process nominated individuals and presented them in writing to Ojoto-obiofia from amongst them whom a possible candidate shall be selected and presented to the entire Ojoto assembly, for consideration as the Igwe-elect.
“Of note is the fact that of the four individuals nominated by Enugo village, the duo of Chief Dennis Okafor and Emeka Ezekwelu did not consent to their being nominated by Enugo village, leaving only Gerald Mbamalu and Emeka Ilonze as the willing and consenting candidates presented by the village.
“Having received the letter from Enugo village, the Ojoto-obiofia decided that a selection process be conducted amongst the nominated individuals, by every kindred (umunna) constituting the four villages of Ojoto-obiofia, forwarding a 10-man delegate each to conduct the selection process after which a chosen candidate will be presented to Ojoto town for requisite screening as possible Igwe-elect.
“The selection process is slated for April 29, 2017. Delegates from 29 out of the 30 umunnas from the four villages of Ojoto-Obiofia had arrived from their various places of abode mostly outside Anambra State and duly registered for this exercise before some agents of destruction and confusion contrived measures attempting to frustrate the entire process for no just cause.
“Ojoto has had peaceful transition in the matter of ascension to Igwe throne until this very transition. What is playing out now is a grand design by enemies of peace to scuttle the laid down process in Ojoto which has ensured peace, harmony, fair play and belonginess, among others.”
Okonkwo had in the petition further appealed to Obiano to take measured steps “to protect Ojoto people and Ojoto town as a whole from this looming devastation,” while also pleading that “Ojoto as a town be allowed to exercise its civic, constitutional, and natural right of choosing its own traditional ruler.”
Sunday Sun learnt thwat after investigating the matter, the State Government suspended processes aimed at selecting or presenting a traditional ruler for the community.
The government had further reaffirmed its position on the issue in a letter dated May 17, 2017, addressed to Engr. Edwin Mbamalu, which was made available to Sunday Sun.
In the letter signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Ikechukwu Onyeabo, the government said the peace of the community remained its top priority, warning that it would not tolerate any attempt to derail it.
The letter read in part: “I am directed to remind you of the decision of the Anambra State Government suspending processes aimed at selecting or presenting a traditional ruler/Igwe of Ojoto community. It is in this wise that the attempt by a section of the community to embark on the process on April 29, 2017 was stopped.
“The State Government hereby states that the peace in Ojoto community as in other communities in the state remains its top priority and will not tolerate any attempt to derail same. The purported selection of a traditional ruler/Igwe in Ojoto on May 13, 2017, is therefore denounced as being of no effect. You are therefore directed to comply with the state government’s decision on this matter.”
Nevertheless, the Regency Council Ojoto, in the advertorial, assured that the selection process for choosing an Igwe-elect for Ojoto would only continue on the instruction of the state government or any other constituted authority empowered by law to do so.
“The good people of Ojoto and members of the public should please remain law-abiding, as the peaceful Ojoto is more important than the vaulting ambition of any individual,” the Council further said.