Igweship Tussle Tears, Umuoba-Anam, Anambra Community Apart

                                                                               

 

The tussle of who will occupy the vacant seat of the traditional ruler of Umuoba Anam community in Anambra East local Government area of Anambra which has been lingering for some time now took a more dangerous dimension recently following a report aired by a local Radio station announcing that state government has issued letter of recognition to one Mr. George Obalim Ekwealor as the traditional ruler of the community which didn’t go down well with a section of people in the community.

 

It will be recalled that the Igweship stool of Umuoba Anam is vacant following the death of His Royal Highness Igwe Raphael Anija who died few years ago after just two years on the throne as the paramount traditional ruler of the community.

 

The vacancy of the throne however pitched the five quarters that make up the community namely Umuobalichi, Umuoji, Umuoke, Umuezeanya and Umuoche against one another over which quarters is entitled to produce the ruler with the people of Umuobalichi taking the matter to court on the ground that the constitution of the community approves that as the eldest quarters in the community, they are entitled to produce the next ruler of the community.

 

Reacting to the Radio announcement in a statement issued in Onitsha, the people of Umuobalichi dismissed the report saying that the Igweship matter is pending in the state High court at Otuocha with the case file registration NO OT/63/2013 and that makes it impossible for anybody to claim the seat for now.

 

According to the statement which was signed by the chairman of the Umuobalichi quarters Chief Morba Victor Omenwa, the report that Mr. George Obalim Ekwealor has been issued certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Umuoba Anam is controversial in nature as it doesn’t represent the true position of what is on the ground.

 

“the report was meant to deceive the people and cause confusion capable to breach peace in community, but we are on top of the situation, we have told the youths to remain calm and allow the court to decide the matter and forget what anybody is doing” the statement added.