Dethroned traditional ruler of Nwafia community in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo has alerted Governor Chukwuma Soludo that an appointee in his government was using his position to set his community on fire.
He stated that an order of the State High Court presided over by Justice Promise Otti had stopped one Chief Dan Obelle from parading himself as the traditional ruler of Nwafia, but the deputy chief of staff/director of protocol to the governor, Mr Chinedu Nwoye has been backing the former to perform traditional rituals as the traditional ruler of the community.
When contacted, Mr Nwoye claimed that the state government has not revoked the certificate of recognition issued to Chief Obelle as the traditional ruler of Nwafia.
When he was reminded that the state commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs, Chief Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne has stated that the state government has withdrawn the recognition of Chief Obelle as traditional ruler on the basis of Justice Otti’s Court order, he stated that until the state government withdraws the certificate of recognition given to Obelle, he would continue to accord him recognition.
“I am an officer of the state government. So, I am recognising the person the state government gave certificate of recognition. Until the state government withdraws his certificate of recognition and issue it to another person, he (Obelle) remains the traditional ruler of Nwafia,” Nwoye insisted.
But Igwe Nwankwo insisted that a stay of execution has not been obtained against the order of Justice Otti’s Court and that he has been abiding by the order of the court.
Igwe Nwankwo stated that his travails started under the immediate past Governor Willy Obiano administration when he had already reigned as the monarch of Nawfia for more than 20 years afyer he, alongside 11 other traditional rulers accompanied the state’s multi-billionaire oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze on a courtesy visit on President Muhammad Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the Obiano administration had suspended all of them from their thrones but later reinstated about eight of them, but that he went to the court to challenge the government action as an infringement on his fundamental right of movement.
Igwe Nwankwo stated that his legal action was against the Anambra state government and the state council of traditional rulers which Chief Obelle was not a party.
