Igweship crisis : Anambra Govt, ASATU Warn Oba PG
...As Regent Threatens Suit
By Juliana Nwachukwu
The Igweship crisis rocking Oba community, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has taken a new dimension following warning by the state government and Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), threatening to sanction the President General of the community, Chief Anthony Ejiofor, if he recognizes anybody as monarch of the community.
In a release by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Town Union Affairs, Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, to the PG of Oba, he advised him not to go contrary to the consent judgment by a High court in the suit No HID/223/2023.
The consent judgement was delivered on 10th December 2024 which established negotiation and agreement between plaintiffs and defendants.
He warned the PG that on no account will anybody be addressed as monarch of Oba when there was no election to that effect and that the government was not aware of any having ordered earlier the cancelation of proposed Oba Igweship election as the matter is still pending in court.
According to the commissioner, the town union constitution does not reflect the consent judgement and advised that status quo remains pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The release was copied to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Commissioner of Police, State Security Service, Regent of Oba, Prince Noel Ezenwa and Mayor of Idemili South council area.
Also, ASATU, through its National President, Hon. Titus Akpudo, advised Ejiofor to tread with caution the Igweship saga, warning him that government expressed displeasure over the unnecessary controversy surrounding the Igweship contest, stating that, "Government may invoke the full arms of the law within its disposal if due caution is not applied by your good office to remedy the situation."
Akpudo warned further that , "No legitimate election/selection of Igwe Oba has been held. Be cautious in matter relating to election of Igwe Oba and avoid recognition of any individual as Igwe Oba.
Copies of the release were also sent to Commissioner Nwabunwanne, Idemili council major, Hon. Amaka Obi and DSS
In a similar development, the regent of Oba, Prince Noel Ezenwa, has threatened to sue the owner of the voice record that said that his regency has since expired with the election of of Engr Emelobe.
Reacting to the voice record, the regent said, "He has been invited by the police and DSS but his excuse is that he is incapacitated to come alone as his escort is not around.
"I was woken up by the voice record that was almost like threatening, at first it was like urging people to massively enter the palace. I was quit taken aback and then I recognized the voice. It belongs to one Cardinal Onwutalu, this is a man I have come to confirm that he is paid to blackmail people.
"This is what they did at Okuzu, telling the President that if he comes to the venue of Igweship election that his head will be cut off and used to play soccer.
"In my own he said that there is nothing like regency again since Emelobe has been elected as monarch and that the cabinet meeting I was to convene will not hold and advised those concern not to attend. Even if the meeting was held because they know he was on the payroll of one who sent him. What they do is to threaten any perceived enemy", he revealed further.
The regent lamented that people because of money no longer regard Igweship as pure traditional but rather politicize it, adding that if he had wanted to remain as regent he would not have within months of the demise of his father, did the last ofala.
* Nwachukwu is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
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