Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra has dismissed a statement credited to Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, in which he described their monarch Igwe Amb Sir (Dr) Oguchukwu Daniel Obelle, as “self-acclaimed” traditional ruler of the community.
The community says Igwe Obelle remains the authentic, certified and recognised Monarch of the community.
Our community finds the statement “demeaning derogatory, grossly offensive and a deliberate attempt to run Nawfia and her Igwe under the bus for reasons that are not in the interest of Nawfia people”.
The Nigerian Tribune had earlier reported that Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, in a letter addressed to the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo over the current misunderstanding between the State Government and the suspended Traditional Ruler of Neni over conferement of Chieftaincy titles to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. and others without clearance from the government.
Achebe, who is apparently angered by the way the monarch of Neni, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Damian Ezeani, was suspended by the state government recently for conferring chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, in a letter authored by himself, said the government should respect the traditional rulers and the institutions.
Reacting further on the development, the people of Nawfia appealed to Obi of Onitsha to accord Igwe Obelle his due respect as one of his colleagues in the State.
The appeal was contained in a statement signed and made available to Journalists in Awka on Saturday, by Chief Nicolas Ikechukwu Okonkwo Esq. Ochiagha Chinyelugo na Nawfia
(Member Igwe Ezeudo Cabinet).
The statement read in part; “Our attention has been drawn to your viral letter to the Anambra State Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the above captioned
subject matter, which incidentally touched on our community, Nawfia.
“As the Chairman of Traditional Rulers in Anambra State, your word carries weight and far-reaching implications. We, therefore, commend the forceful manner with which you promptly rose in defence of traditional rulers and traditional institutions in
Anambra.
“However, in the case of Nawfia, it was grievously demeaning and befuddling as you offensively employed disparaging phrases such as ‘self-acclaimed’ and unrecognised traditional ruler’ in your reference to the Traditional Ruler of Nawfia, HRH Igwe Amb. Sir Ogochukwu Daniel Obelle, mni, PhD, Igwe Ezeudo Nawfia.
“Ndi Nawfia finds the above description of their Igwe as derogatory, grossly offensive and a deliberate attempt to run Nawfia and her Igwe under the bus for reasons that are not in the interest of Ndi Nawfia. The said references have heightened tension and are fast threatening the peace and security of Nawfia.
“With due respect, Your Royal Highness, the Traditional Ruler of Nawfia, HRH Igwe Amb. Sir (Dr) Ogochukwu Daniel Obelle, mni, is not and cannot be a ‘self-acclaimed and unrecognised traditional ruler’.
“He serves at the behest of his people, duly elected in accordance with the Constitution
of Nawfia and recognized with a Certificate of Recognition by the Anambra State Government, which certificate was physically presented to Your Royal Highness in Imeobi Palace at Onitsha on 13th day of March, 2022 and in several official correspondences, subsequently. Your Highness even sent a powerful delegation to Igwe Obelle’s coronation at Nawfia on 19th March 2022.
“The position of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo on whom the Government accords Recognition as the Igwe of any Community in Anambra State is explicit and in the public domain.
“It is therefore not within the purview of Your Royal Highness or any Government appointee for that matter to refuse to accord due recognition to an Igwe bearing same Certificate of Recognition as yours.
“We would have thought that the massive success of Igwe Ezeudo’s first Ofala/Igu Aro Festival despite desperate attempts by sinister elements to frustrate same, should have served not just as a pointer to his wide acceptability by his people but also as a testament to the huge impact he has made in the lives of Ndi Nawfia since assuming the Traditional stool of Nawfia.
“Admittedly, as it is in the case of most towns in Anambra State, Onitsha is not excluded,
Nawfia matter is subject of litigation by a former Regent who claimed and paraded himself as the Igwe of Nawfia but was never issued any Certificate of Recognition by the Government of Anambra, until he was suspended and subsequently removed by the Anambra State Government.
“He is challenging his removal by the Government in Court, which we wholeheartedly welcome as the most civil approach to conflict resolution.
“Without joining Igwe Obelle as a party to his suit he obtained an interim order from a High Court in Awka that affected the interest of a party that was not party or joined in his suit.
“HRH Igwe Obelle promptly responded by filing an Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Awka Division, on the grounds that you cannot shave the hair of a man in his absence. You will agree with us, though, elementary, that the mere existence of a pending lawsuit does not suffice as grounds for withdrawal of certificate of recognition, particularly because the final determination can go either way.
“It is only the final determination of the substantive suit and possible appeal at the Apex Court that can make a full and final pronouncement on the status of the Igwe
of Nawfia. Until then, the Government has continued to maintain the status quo ante, according full and due recognition to HRH Igwe Amb. Sir Ogochukwu Daniel Obelle as the Igwe and Traditional Ruler of Nawfia. Anyone with a contrary claim should furnish evidence to that effect.
“It is our submission that Your Royal Highness acted hastily in your presumptions, which is why we have again attached to this reaction copy of the Certificate of Recognition of HRH Igwe Obelle as the Traditional Ruler of Nawfia, copy of his Appeal and Order of the Court of Appeal therefrom.
“We, therefore, call on Your Royal Highness, in the interest of fairness and balance, to redress the wrong done to Ndi Nawfia and their traditional ruler by issuing a similar viral letter correcting the wrong impression created about Ndi Nawfia and their Traditional Ruler. Thank you Sir”.
