By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Residents of Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State and some invited guests are currently confused following the drama gradually unfolding in the community ahead of the proposed new yam festival of Igwe Daniel Obelle, scheduled for Saturday, September 20.
The apprehension stemmed from a warning notice issued by another ‘Traditional Ruler’ in the community, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, who cautioned members of the public not to step into Nawfia on the said date for the purpose of attending the new yam festival organized by Obelle.
In the warning notice dated September 18, 2025 and personally signed on his letterhead, Nwankwo, who had already celebrated his own new yam festival last Friday as traditional ruler of the community, dismissed Obelle has never been Igwe Eze/Nawfia, but a meddlesome interloper parading fraudulent certificate of recognition.
While urging the Attorney General of the State to advise the Governor properly on how such a certificate was obtained, Nwankwo also sternly warned members of the public to steer clear off Nawfia on the said date of Obelle’s new yam festival, to avoid being embarrassed by security agencies.
The five-paragraph document, captioned “Warning! Announcement Warning”, read in part: “The general public is hereby warned not to step into Nawfia on 20 September, 2025 for any purported Iriji of Daniel Obelle.
“Daniel Obelle has NEVER been Igwe/Eze Nawfia, with the purported fraudulent certificate of recognition he is parading.
“The Attorney General of Anambra State is hereby advised to counsel the governor properly, particularly on how he obtained the fraudulent certificate he is parading as well as the incompetent appeal he filed without adhering to the Trinity law requirements. Daniel Obelle is a meddlesome interloper.
“The public is hereby warned to stay clear of Nawfia to avoid any embarrassment by security agencies.”
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that the kingship tussle in Nawfia has lingered for years and dates back to 2020/2021. Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, one of the claimants, has long held the traditional stool, having been crowned in 2001 after the brutal assassination of his father, HRH Igwe F.F.B.C. Nwankwo. Although he was the second son, he replaced his father, because the second son, who is a US-based medical doctor said he had no interest in the royal stool, hence, clearing the path for his younger brother’s coronation.
Nwankwo’s reign was, however, cut short in 2020 when the then Governor Willie Obiano suspended him alongside other traditional rulers who travelled to Abuja with oil magnate Prince Arthur Eze to meet former President Muhammadu Buhari, in what was considered a politically charged move. That suspension escalated into eventual dethronement and his certificate withdrawn by government; after which the Nawfia Town Union reportedly rallied and elected Daniel Obelle, who was crowned and presented with a certificate of recognition by the state government.
Since then, both men have locked horns over the stool, with the dispute resurfacing more sharply and fiercely whenever cultural rites like the ịwa ji (new yam festival) and other draw near. The rite, traditionally performed by a community’s monarch, formally grants indigenes the liberty to begin eating new yam, which is revered as the king of crops.
However, when contacted on Friday, by this reporter, the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, confirmed Igwe Obelle as the government-recognized traditional ruler, with official Certificate of Recognition from government.
“In Anambra State here, government recognizes only traditional rulers who have certificates of recognition. And as it stands now, Igwe Obelle is the person who holds the certificate of recognition in Nawfia. And by implication, he is the government-recognized traditional ruler of Nawfia,” he said.
When asked about the lastest court’s stand in the legal journey on the matter, the Commissioner recalled that Nwankwo sometime obtained a court ruling barring Obelle from parading himself and his certificate as Igwe Nawfia. He, however, explained that the judgment did not return the certificate earlier withdrawn from Nwankwo; hence the traditional stool was vacant at that time.
Speaking further, the Commissioner said that Obelle subsequently filed an appeal and also secured a stay of execution, which, once served, restored the status quo in his favour.
“By implication, therefore, Igwe Obelle remains the recognized traditional ruler of Nawfia, because he is the last person that the government issued certificate of recognition as Igwe Nawfia. Remember that Nwankwo’s certificate had been withdrawn earlier before the time Obelle was crowned and presented with certificate of recognition,” he clarified.
When asked about the planned yam festival and Nwankwo’s warning, the Commissioner refused to be drawn into the matter, noting it was not his role to advise the public on which events or ceremonies to attend or not.
“The only and most important thing I want to confirm to you is that as at today, Igwe Daniel Obelle is the only government-recognized traditional ruler of Nawfia. He is the only person with government’s certificate of recognition as Igwe Nawfia. Simple!” he concluded.
