Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The crisis rocking the traditional council of Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State has escalated as kinsmen of one of the allegedly suspended traditional chiefs has faulted the action of the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III.
The Okpo na Ezeani family, kinsmen of Chief Linus Mgbakogu (Atta Obosi) in a resolution signed by their chairman, Nze Goddy Onubogu, described the suspension as illegal and unacceptable to their people.
They also expressed serious concern over what they described as numerous crisis and killings in Obosi community which they said aggravated since the enthronement of the traditional ruler.
The family also expressed total disappointment, disillusion and utter sadness that the death of two Obosi sons, which ordinarily should evoke solemn and sober reflection, was being used by the traditional stool to further heat-up the polity and aggravate the endemic crisis in his cabinet.
“The so-called suspension of our highly revered Atta Obosi is illegal and unacceptable to us. More so, the suspension of Ndi-Ichie is sacrilegious in all ramifications, because the customs and traditions of the community bestowed a kind of immunity on them that they cannot be said to have committed Alu in Obosi land, hence they are ‘Ome abu Nso.’ May be the Igwe is not aware of this.”
“The family regrets that this particular crisis was accentuated by partisan political position held by the Igwe. This made the situation to be handled without discretion and caution,” the statement said.
It would be recalled that the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III had accused three cabinet chiefs of committing sacrilege by bringing to the palace, bodies of two young Obosi sons allegedly shot by security operatives during the re-run election for Idemili North and South federal constituency.
At an emergency meeting held at the Igwe’s palace, a resolution conveying the suspension notice of Chief Osita Chidoka and two others signed by Dr Bennett Mozie, was presented to journalists where it was quoted that the decision was taken after due consultations with the relevant ancient traditional bodies of Obosi.
But the Traditional Prime Minister (Onowu) of Obosi, Chief Anthony, Eze Nwabude, kicked against the suspension and said that there was never a meeting held in respect of the resolution, adding that since the killing of the two Obosi sons, the Igwe-in-Council had not met on the matter, let alone take any position on the issue in contention.