From Nweke Nweke, Awka
The Awka-Etiti community has described as laughable the claimed by one Chuma Angus Ojukwu, (the son of former Igwe Silas Ojukwu of Awka Etiti) who hails from Nkolofia village and allegedly claiming to have been coroneted the traditional ruler of the community
Recently, there was a publication in two national dailies credited to one Mr. Chuma Angus Ojukwu to have been laying claim of being the Igwe and Obi of Awka-etiti on the grand that the traditional institution in the community is dynastically in nature. He was quoted to have been faulting the emergency of Igwe Michael Ezeudenna as the Obi of Awka-etiti and accusing the Anambra state government led by Chief Willie Obiano of instigating crisis by issuing certificate of recognition to Igwe Ezeudenna.
In a chat with newsmen, the Secretary, Igwe –In –Council of Awka Etiti, Ichie Ebele Enemuo said that the claim of the young man, Angus Ojukwu has no substance and cannot stand on its feet in Awka Etiti.
Ichie Enemuo who disclosed that Awka Etiti has seven(7) villages namely, in the order of seniority: Nkolofia, Umunocha, Ejinandu, Iruowele, Umudunu, Nnaba and Ogunzele, noted that the traditional rulership rotates among the seven villages in order of seniority as inculcated in the 1999 Resolution, subsequently instilled in the 2004 constitution of Awka-Etiti.
He further chronicled that Awka Etiti has never had Igwe until 1950s when the then Easter government started recognizing traditional rulers across the South East region. In lieu to that effect, Chief Silas Ezenwa from Iruowele village becomes the first elected Igwe of the community, installed and coroneted in 1957, which according him, triggered disturbances and was only resolved through the 1999 resolution of Awka Etiti, signed on 25th April, 1999 .
He said, “ Igwe Silas Ezenwa died on October 11th, 2003 and his final Offala was celebrated in 2005 coupled with one year mourning according to the tradition of the Awka Etiti.
“After his death, the community decided to implement the 1999 resolution, which stated among other things that “the traditional stool of Awka etiti shall rotate among the seven villages in Awka-etiti in order of seniority”. To that effect, Nkolofia village, the most senior among the seven villages presented Chief Joachin Okwudili Ojukwu as the Igwe and Obi of Awka Etiti, after all requirements was met and was coroneted on 26th of April 2008.
“After the death of Igwe Joachin Okwudili Ojukwu in 2013 and all rites and traditional of the community concerned late Igwe was completed, it was the turn of Umunocha to produce the next Igwe, they went normal processes and Engr. Michael Ezeudenna emerged Igwe-elect”.
Ichie Enemuo further stated that Igwe Michael Ezeudenna having beat his opponents in the election also met and fulfilled all other requirements including presentation of Igwe-elect to the, town union, seven villages in Awka-etiti, Local Government Council and state government before his installation by the good people of Awka Etiti community and the subsequent reception of Certificate of Recognition given to him by the Anambra State government on November 2nd and 3rd, 2016 respectively.
Ichie Enemuo who vehemently insists that there is no confusion in the community concerning the traditional institution, however, advised Chuma Ojukwu to wait for the turn of his village, if he wants to be the Igwe, subjects to whether his villagers and people of Awka-Etiti want him. He insisted that the long arms of the law would surely catch up with any impostor as according to him, “the evidences of his impersonation abound and nobody is above the law.
While interacting with the duo of Ikechukwu Igwe of Iruowele and Robert Ekwelum of Nnaba both are the chairman of their respective villages said that Chuma Ojukwu was deceived by some unscrupulous cabals in the community into believing that he is a crown prince because of his ignorance in the contents of the constitution of Awka-etiti, 2004.
The chairman of Iruowele village, Mr. Ikechukwu Igwe who dismissed as fallacy the claims by Chuma Ojukwu that he met with governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano as the Igwe-elect of Awka-Etiti, queried why then did the governor gave certificate of recognition to Igwe Ezeudenna instead of Chuma as claimed.
The duo of Ikechukwu Igwe of Iruowele and Robert Ekwelum of Nnaba frowned at the magnitude of indictment against the working Governor of Anambra State whose efforts to ensure secured and peaceful Anambra state has no equal.
