Tension in Nnobi over Traditional stool as Community holds parallel New Yam Festival

                 

Two traditional rulers , Igwe Nick Obi and Igwe Ebubechukwu Etudo are laying claims to the stool of Nnobi community and have held a separate traditional new yam festival , thus causing confusion and tension with youths about to be used as cannon fodder .

Odogwublog.com recalls that Igwe Ebubechukwu Etudo was initially laying claims over the stool for long and was seen as the Monarch until the Government of Governor Peter Obi recognized Igwe Nick Obi after he resigned as appointed commissioner in the Obi cabinet.

And now that Nnobi woman is the Commissioner for Education , Prof Kate Omenugha , Igwe Etudo started again after being quiet for long and engaging in a long time court process.

Igwe Obi has protested the continued activities of the Igwe Ebubechukwu who he described as an impersonator and called on the police to forestall the breakdown of law and order in the community.

In a petition by the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), signed by Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Zone 9, Usman Gwary, Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Hosea Karma and   Chairman, Police Service Commission, Rtd IGP, Mike Okiro, the group called for the steady maintenance of law and order and the protection of recognized traditional institution and the entire Nnobi community.

Intersociety frowned at the activities of some contestant to the royal stool of the community which has been threatening the peaceful coexistence of the people in the area despite the fact that all litigations coming from the disputed chieftaincy has been resolved which led to the government of Anambra State issuing a certificate of recognition to Igwe Nick Obi on 4^th July 2011 and presented him with a staff of office.

The group condemned various roles played by the DPO of Nnobi police division and the Area commander in charge of Awka area command in the chieftaincy tussle saga and called on the police hierarchy to ensure that government pronouncements must be enforced and protected on at all times in the matter.

Intersociety said: “Section 19 and 20 of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law of 1981 forbid those not recognized as traditional rulers from addressing or parading themselves as if they are. They are also barred from holding, sponsoring or participating in community activities under whatever names called in parallel with or outside the consent or knowledge of the community’s recognized chiefs or traditional rulers. Contravention of the provisions of these sections attracts on conviction two years imprisonment without option of fine.  We call on your good offices to enforce these provisions to the letter”

The idea of using or converting the dispute in the said community into money making venture by way of indiscriminate and seeming police invitation and arrest must be avoided”  the group said.

Efforts by odogwublog.com to get the reactions of the two claimants to Nnobi throne proved abortive as at time of filling in this report.