Tensions are currently mounting in the Nteje community, Oyi local government area of Anambra State, regarding the choice of a traditional ruler of the area.
LEADERSHIP learnt that according to the town’s constitution, the Igweship rotates among its three quarters: Ezi, Ikenga, and Ivite.
The last monarch, Igwe Ronald Odegbo who joined his ancestors about three years ago hailed from Ikenga. He was on the throne for about 13 years. He succeeded late Igwe Sam Nnaemeka from Ezi who resigned for about 30 years.
Sources in the community said it is now the turn of Ivite to produce the next monarch according to the constitution of the town. LEADERSHIP gathered that the people of Ivite Nteje have even nominated one High Chief Christopher Okechukwu Nebo to mount the throne on behalf of their quarter.
LEADERSHIP, however, gathered that certain powerful forces in the community, are opposed to Ivite producing the next monarch.
Their argument was that the late Igwe Odegbo reigned in contempt of the court.
A highly influential leader of the town, Chief Mike Nwakalo, from Ezi quarter told LEADERSHIP that Odegbo was never a king in the community.
He said that an Otuocha High Court had in 2010 nullified Odegbo’s Igweship. And that Appeal Court later affirmed the Otuocha High Court’s judgement. Chief Nwakalo who is popularly known as “Wowo” said that Odegbo had headed to the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal judgement, but, that the matter was still pending in the apex court when he passed on. So, following Odegbo’s demise the case was “struck out by the Supreme Court. So, tell me where there is vacancy”, Nwakalo argued.
But a former president-general of the town union, Chief Bennett Chinweze, who also hails from Ezi like Nwakalo, strongly dismissed the latter’s argument.
He insisted that it is the turn of Ivite to produce the monarch of the town. He said that the Anambra State government was never made a party in the suit in the Court against Odegbo’s Igweship. He also argued that the state government throughout the years Odegbo was on the throne did not withdraw his certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Nteje. And that Odegbo during his reign was even chairman of the state’s North Senatorial Zone traditional rulers council, and, “The present governor in the state, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo was present at Igwe Odegbo’s burial with some other officials of the state government”.
Chief Chinweze argued further that it was Owowo as president-general of Nteje Development Union who signed the constitution that provided for the rotation of the Igwe among the three quarters in order of their seniority.
“And Ezi started it because Ezi is the eldest followed by Ikenga, then Ivite who is the youngest.This is how Igwe Sam Nnaemeka from Ezi became Igwe. And he reigned for about 30 years before he died. He was Nwakalo’s uncle”.
“After Igwe Nnaemeka died, the slot went to Ikenga. And Igwe Ronald Odegbo became Igwe from Ikenga. And he resigned for 13 years. During his time he was chairman of the Anambra North traditional rulers council.
“So, it is now the turn of Ivite Nteje to produce Igwe”, Chinweze insisted.
When contacted, the presidents-general of the community, Dr. Nnamdi Ioduba simply referred this reporter to go and find out the position of the state government on the matter.
When contacted, the commissioner of Local Government and Town Union Affairs, Chief Tonycollins Nwabunwanne said he had tried to resolve the Igweship selection dispute but that the two quarters of Ivite and Ikenga do not want to concede to each other.
He said that while the Ivite people insisted that it was their turn according to the town union constitution, the Ikenga people insisted that they had not taken their slot since the Court nullified Odegbo’s Igweship.
“So, I have now advised the community to go back to the Court to seek the interpretation of the Court on the issue “, Nwabunwanne stated.
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP gathered that according to the town union constitution, one year after the demise of the traditional ruler, a new one should be crowned, but, it is currently about three years Odegbo passed on and no new traditional ruler had emerged due to the controversy over which quarter between Ivite and Ikenga should produce the king.
It was also gathered that a former senior staff of the defunct, National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) who contested the Igweship with Odegbo from Ikenga quarter, Chief Charles Aduaka is being backed by Wowo and group to be crowned the next Igwe of the community.
A source in the community, however, confided in this reporter that the people of Ivite have vowed that they would resist any attempt to deny their quarter the slot to produce the next Igwe with all their might.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
