By Chuks Eke
Perturbed by rampant inter and intra communal conflicts plaguing some of the 179 communities ìn Anambra state arising from chieftancy, town union, lands and boundary disputes, the Chairman of Anambra State Transitional Rulers Council, ASTRC and Transitional Ruler of Obosi Kingdom, His Majesty, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III (Ogalagidi) has formed a conflict resolution committee to look into the conflicts where they exist.
The committee, made up of seasoned Transitional Rulers and town union Presidents-General, is à lsò expected to look into the current crime rate ìn some communities with a view to assisting law enforcement agencies ìn ameliorating the situation.
Igwe Iweka who disclosed this ìn his Palace at Obosi shortly after confering an Ichie Chieftancy title of Obazelu Eze on an illustrious son of Obosi Kingdom and American based . medical practitioner, Dr. Ikechukwu Nwabude and adopted him as a member of the royal cabinet, noted that with all disputes resolved in affected communities and lasting peace restored, traditional rulers in the state would now settle down for more impactful duties and onerous tasks in their respective communities.
He contended that since kingship is a divine mandate, picking a traditional ruler in a community is by divinity and not by handsomeness or richness, adding that there ought to be funding for traditional rulers to enable them carry out their onerous functions effectively as a result of their pivotal roles in various communities.
On the five percent allocation to traditional rulers from the federation account, Igwe Iweka noted that the allocation would no doubt make a great impact, adding, “We are lacking the pecuniary to solve myriad of problems in our communities”.
“For instance, many traditional rulers numbering over 100 have been kidnapped and killied in Igbo land over the years as a result of lack of security. Security has always been a problem across the country. What we had in a couple of years now was epidemic of crime. It was a mindset that took over the minds of our youths. God gave Soludo wisdom to set up Udo Ga Achi Agunechemba and we are comfortable with that because crime rate has drastically reduced at the moment”.
During the conferment exercise, witnessed by other cabinet members, including the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka (Ike Obosi), Igwe Iweka described Dr. Nwabude as a true son of Obosi, adding that as the President of Obosi Development Union, ODU, United States of America, USA branch, Nwabude has helped a lot of Obosi indigenes in far away US to establish and stand on their feet.
Responding, Nwabude who expressed gratitude to the Igwe and his cabinet members for considering him worthy of being admitted into the Obosi royal cabinet, pledged to abide by all the rules guiding the cabinet members.
On the appointment of Igwe Iweka as Chairman of Anambra state council of traditional rulers, by Governor Soludo in February, this year, Dr. Nwabude noted that Obosi sons and daughters in US welcomed the development when they received the news of the appointment, adding that the appointment was not only long overdue but also well deserving in nature.
One of the Obosi royal cabinet members, Dr. Ndudi Monago told newsmen at the Palace that Obosi people are united, peaceful and blessed to have a sensible and intelligent traditional ruler in the person of Igwe Iweka.
