BATTLE FOR TRADITIONAL RULER HEATS UP IN ADAZI NNUKWU

At Adazi Nnukwu, Anaocha LGA Anambra state, Nigeria
Monday 31st August 2015
Technology

Adazi Nnukwu a popular community in Anaocha local government area of Anambra state known for their rich cultural heritage and prominent sons and daughters who have achieved a lot both in civil service and in business. The town is also known as a Christian /Catholic community due to their early reception of the missionaries.

However, Adazi Nnukwu has three main division known as Amata clan, Amolu clan and Nnukwu clan (and 19 villages), each of the clan is headed by a clan Chief while the Adama is the overall ruler of the town. Since the death of the last Adama, Igwe Micheal Ojiako II, the town has continued in search of who the cap fits most especially with the choice of moving the royalty from Ojiako family (Amolu) and the zoning formula which gives Nnukwu the sole responsibility of producing the next Igwe of the town.

Recently, on 28th August 2015, the town in a general meeting of the Adazi Nnukwu Town Development Union (ATDU) headed by its President General, Chief Ben Enemuo received the Igweship screening result and the decision of the Election Commission headed by Rev Fr. C Agulefo; the Commission also announced the disqualification of one of the contestants, Chief Ikechukwu Chukwuma (Ichie Nwatayana Chi ya di mma) a philanthropist and an international business guru based in Abidjan (Code de Voire). This reduces the list list of contestants to two, Chief Dr Chike C. Ezeude (Dim Ebekuedike) a retired civil servant and business man; and Professor Augustine Obiekezie (Ichie Ugommuta) Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Calabar (UNICAL).

Upon hearing the result, a group which disagrees with the disqualification of Ichie Nwatayana Chi ya di mma began a protest and it took the intervention of the auxiliary bishop of Awka diocese, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye who is also an indigene and some other illustrious sons and clergy to douce the tension. However, the President General commended the commission for their effort and frowned at the manner some people have been going about the process. He also condemned the purported threat messages sent to the chairman of the commission and called on the perpetrators to desist forthwith.

In a chart with the candidates, Chief Ezeude expressed satisfaction with the process and said "it is all about sacrifice". He also said it is best the town is concluding the Igwe issue this year other than allow it to delay and possibly creating more tension in the town. On his own part, Professor Obiekezie said "the whole process is very rigorous". He pointed out he had not in about 30 years had a written examination but he had to write one during the screening.

"it is a pity the electoral commission didn't find all the candidates suitable to continue in the race, I feel it would've been better if the three of us were allowed to continue but as you can see, I am not a member of the electoral commission and I believe they are doing their job and they need our support".

The Prof also said that it is a screening process which means it is not everybody that will 'sail through', "the town needs one Adama, one Onowu (Odu) and one President General and everybody has his own inch to contribute to the development of the town". He also called on Adazi people to be selfless in the process and work for the interest of the town.

"It is not a do or die affair, I personally don't have any overriding interest in being the Adama of Adazi Nnukwu but if the Adazi people consider me worthy to bear the responsibility; then it will be a big diversion from the things I am doing as an international academic and that means it will change my lifestyle and I have to pay more attention to the town. If it is the wish of the people, I cannot argue it but if they choose other candidate, it is well and fine with me; I don't have any problem about that".

Speaking to Naija24Info, the 1st vice president of the ATDU, Chief Engr Cyril Anetoh (Ichie Ugonna) gave a rundown of the process and screening requirement, he said; due to the high demands attached to the throne, there were certain measures involved to ensure the best candidate emerge. He noted that candidates were sent to a specific hospital for medical test, a written and oral test, then according to the constitution, candidates must have at least a national diploma certificate (starting with WAEC ) and these were the measures employed which reduced the number of candidates from three to two.

"before now selection and election processes were done at the town level but this time around it will be at all branches of the ATDU and every financial member will participate".

He said the final election has been scheduled to hold on Saturday 28th of November 2015 at all branches across the federation and in United States of America; after the election, the results will be sent to the Central Executive Council (CEC) for collation after which the winner will be announced and date for the coronation will be fixed.

"After the election at the branches, the results will be sent to the CEC for collation and after that the winner will be announced and if he hasn't taken the Ozo title, a period of one year will be given for him to fulfill the requirements but if he already has the Ozo title, a date will be fixed immediately for the coronation".

The Acting Adama and clan Chief of Amolu clan, Chief Pius Obiakonwa (Ezeana Udokamma) on his part thanked God for the calmness that has returned to the town stressing that prior to the Friday's meeting, there was serious tension in the town but due to the manner it was handled, normalcy have returned to the town. The monarch went on to thank God for the gift of wisdom to Adazi Nnukwu pointing out that similar situation in other communities results to conflict but Adazi case has remained peaceful and orderly.

He further said that after the whole election process, when the Igwe emerges, the the coronation is expected to hold between January and April 2015 unless otherwise considered. He called on the people to have confidence on the process promising it will be fair enough and transparent. On the issue of disqualification of one of the candidates he said everybody should accept the result and go on until the target is achieved.

"No one can impose Igwe on Adazi Nnukwu, Not even myself! "

The town look very lively as a lot people traveled home for the New yam festival scheduled to hold on Saturday 29th and 30th of August 2015.