Why I Walked Out On Panel – Monarch; Wants Obiano To “Sack” 2 Top Aides
–
Loading ...*sues for peace among subjects
From Chuks Collins, Awka
The newly elected traditional ruler of Ojoto, the host community of the Idemili South Council Headquarters of Anambra state, HRH Igwe-elect, Dennis Adindu Okafor has called on Gov Willie Obiano to remove Chiefs Greg Obi and Ikechukwu Onyeabor from the panel set up to look into the processes leading to his emergence as the new monarch of his community.
In fact, he added, it would be advisable to disband the panel for a new set of members as virtually all membership of the panel as so constituted presently have been exposed to compromise.
Okafor in a widely attended media chat at his palace in Ojoto yesterday where he explained his now famed walk-out on the panel on Tuesday saw the two named officers as interested parties in the matter.
He wondered how and why the two highly placed government officials -Obi who is the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Onyeabor -the Special Assistance to the Governor on Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters who constituted the Dr Tim Menakaya-panel, to whom the report of the panel would be submitted unabashedly made themselves members of the same panel.
More so, that if both officers had done their duties dispassionately there would be no need for any panel. And for having sat and imputed ideas all through the panel’s sitting had naturally polluted the panel with biased ideas, hence need for the disbandment and discard of their Menakaya-panel report for justice to prevail.
Going down memory lane of the long tortuous process of his emergence and successful screening by security agencies, leading to his eventual presentation to the state government for presentation of Certificate of Recognition, the new monarch noted that it was at that point a cabal in the community who never wished the sleepy Ojoto well struck in government offices manipulating anybody and everybody.
That it was reason why he was the only person to be invited at the sat moment of the Tuesday sitting, whereas the whole list of most of the impostors who thronged the panel that day got briefed and lectured on what to do and say many days ahead.
That his choice to show up was principally to honour the State Government, the Governor and all the officials, but was not ready to allow his community and integrity to be debased further, so he walked out. But that it was not until he put on record before them that he didn’t choose himself, but was chosen by the community in line with the constitution of the community which superseded any other one.
According to one of the kingmakers and elder statesmen of the community -Chief Dan Ilonze, an octogenarian who was the President General of Ojoto when the current operational Constitution was signed into law, and with which two past monarchs were crowned, said that any attempt by government or any of its officers or agent attempt to perform the selection for them would be an aberration that would throw the state into unimaginable chaos forever.
Chief Samuel Maduabuchukwu Ezimuo, (Ikenga Ojoto) said that Ojoto has selected and installed her monarch, presently awaiting Certification by the governor. That the present showmanship by some misguided nouveau riche who have no single positive plan for the state government or Ojoto will not accepted.
Hear him, “am the oldest living Ichie in Ojoto today, hence can rightly describe myself as the encyclopedia of our custom and tradition especially on selection and installation of our monarchs.
I was there when the late Igwe Augustine Obidiwe was installed, later dethroned for the late Igwe Adirika. Then when Adirika joined our ancestors, it reverted back to Obidiwe again and now Igwe Dennis Okafor. All procedures were duly followed, because Igwe stool is not a political office and Ojoto is never a political party. No government official or Dr Menakaya will select or install an Igwe that would reign in Ojoto for us in Awka.
Chief Godwin Efoagui, the Ojomo Ojor(Okpala Ojor) whose inalienable traditional right it was to crown all monarch for Ojoto told journalists who were at the palace that he crowned Okafor in line with the laid down processes, having been emerged from the selection process set out in the constitution of Ojoto and accepted by the Town Union.
But the opposing camp led by the Asato Ojoto who was the former regent -Chief Gerrard Mbamalu said he was satisfied with the moves of the Menakaya panel. That he would like to see an open selection process done by the chosen kingmakers as done on Tuesday at the panel’s sitting.
Menakaya admitted that his panel had wound up sitting but called the Tuesday meeting to ensure all lose ends were tied. He disagreed with insinuations and allegations against his members of compromise.
He described them collectively and individually as people of distinguished standing and certifiably above reproach.
But Okafor urged Obiano to set up a fact finding mission to the community if he wants to expose all those who had soiled their hands.
