Tension As Police Foil Protest Over Removal Of Amichi Monarch In Anambra

Police in Anambra State yesterday foiled protest by Amichi commu­nity, Nnewi South Local Government Area for the rmoval of their traditional ruler.

Over 4,000 members of the community from 24 vil­lages converged outside Eb­enato-Okpala Town Hall as early as 8:30am with many 608 Mersedez Benz buses for onward march to Awka, to call on Governor Willie Obiano to withdraw cer­tificate of recognition from Igwe Alphonsus Oforbuike Ezeoke.

The protesters stood in the sun for over four hours waiting for the leadership of Amichi Development Union (ADU) who went to Nnewi Area Command in vain to obtain police permit for the protest. Police had insisted on due process for the per­mit, which foiled the march to Government House, Awka.

In a letter addressed to Governor Obiano and signed by the President Gen­eral of A.D.U,with respect to the protest, the commu­nity claimed that ever since Ezeoke was recognised as Igwe of Amichi, there had been disquiet in the town.

“We want to emphasise further that Amichi has no Igwe, but rather Obi Amichi. We don’t have any constitution that recog­nises Igweship in our tradi­tion and Igweship remains strange and alien to Amichi traditional institution. Since the infiltration and creep­ing in of Igweship idea and ambition, Amichi has not known peace, except grave­yard peace,” the letter read in part.

It said that the community recognised Obiship as its traditional institution, add­ing that Amichi had four sons known as Okpala, Eze- Udene, Afube and Ebenasa and that each of the sons gave birth to a quarter “and each quarter has its own Obiship linage while Okpa­la is the head of all Obis and head of Amichi traditional institution.”

The protesters futher claimed that only four out of 28 villages that make up the four quarters of Amichi were championing the Igwe­ship project.

They said they recognized Obi Amichi (His Royal Highness), Leonard Orjia­kor as the Regent of Amichi and also adopted rotational presidents of A.D.U, among the four quarters.

They pleaded with Gov­ernor Obiano to listen to Amichi people and, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the certificate of recognition given to Igwe Ezeoke, to, “for peace to reign and cor­responding progress to take place in Amichi community.

said he had been working hard to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order and appealed to Gov­ernor Obiano to intervene.