The people of Oba community in Idemili South council area of Anambra State have held a peaceful protest to the State House of Assembly, asking the government to give Certificate of Recognition to their traditional ruler, Igwe Engr Chinedu Emelobe.
The community held an election for Igweship throne on Saturday 21st December 2024 as against Thursday 19th December earlier chosen by the community. This was in obedience to the directive of the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon TonyCollins Nwabunwanne to enable officials of the ministry monitor the election and civil servants from Oba to participate in the election.
Crisis however erupted when after the election, government failed to recognize the Igwe-elect on the grounds that his election did not follow due process.
Against this backdrop, the people of the area stormed the state House of Assembly Awka in protest with placards bearing different inscriptions like “There is absolute peace in Oba”, “Oba women, men, and youth support Igwe Engr AC Emelobe”, ” Oba has elected their king”, ” Oba has moved on with their Igwe elect” among others.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman House of Assembly committee on Public Petitions, Hon Barr Obi Nweke said the process to elect new Igwe must be followed and that Government told Oba people to stop election forthwith but they went ahead to conduct an election.
He noted that Oba community dont have any Igwe at the moment pending the time it conducts a credible election on a date fixed by government.
“The position of the House of Assembly is very clear. There is a process you must follow to elect Igwe. The government should send a representative on election day. The government ought to be carried along because it will give you certificate of recognition. A popular candidate is a popular candidate no matter the number of times that election was conducted”.
Addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting with House of Assembly Committee on Public Petitions, Hon Barr Chuba Oranusi, one of legal practitioners representing Oba Patriotic Union (OPU), which conducted the election that produced Igwe Engr Sir Chinedu Emelobe as Eze Okpoko 2 of Oba, said the election followed due process.
“That letter directing the cancellation never got to the president general of OPU until the 23/12/24, two days after the election. But the fact is that I was part of the delegation on the 16th of December to inform the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs that Oba had fixed an election for Thursday 19th following an emergency general meeting on 13th of December.
“Then in the meeting with the Commissioner, he advised us to shift it to Saturday 21st in order that he and staff of the ministry might be present, and as such, wont disenfranchise Oba natives who are civil servants. On 17th, we held another Extra-ordinary General meeting which countered the earlier motion to hold election on 19th and shift to 21st. This was communicated to the commissioner accordingly.
“Surprisingly, he called a meeting that there is to his knowledge a court order stopping us to conduct an election, asking the PG to continue the election process of an Igwe which had started before the commencement of the suit.
“He later gave a letter to the PG contrary to the Court Order that asked him (PG) to continue and conclude the election.”
Barr Oranusi maintained that what guides the election of Igwe is the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law, which never said the State Government will observe rather should be informed about the election.
“Thus, the community will conduct an election and produce an Igwe, and then present the person to the State Government through the local government council for recognition.”
For Apostle Sunday Chukwuanu, former Asst Secretary Oba Patriotic Union (OPU), two candidates qualified for the Igweship election, Chief Barr Vincent Ananti from Isu quarters while Engr Sir Augustine Chinedu Emelobe qualified from Awkuzu.
“Chapter 16 of OPU Constitution provides that the two candidates must come for an election at the Oba centre.
“On the election day proper, out of 1187 accredited voters, Engr Emelobe scored 1135 votes while his opponent Chief Barr Vincent Ananti had 20 votes. We had invalid votes of 32.
“All the allegations of the opposition, have no bases. They are asking government to introduce interim town union government in a community where there was an election conducted that produced the president general. According to our Constitution, the PG will announce vacancy in the Igwe throne, which has been vacant since 2021.
“The nine quarters in Oba has given Offor title to the new king. For now, there is no case that can stop out Igwe from being given the certificate of recognition.”
Also Speaking, former Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly and legal adviser to the town union, Rt Hon Emeka Anyaenetu expressed displeasure over the actions of the Commissioner for Local Government.
“The election should have to be done in accordance with the constitution of Oba with effect from the point when Government said we should stop.”
The oldest Ichie in the area who was installed since 1981, Ichie Samuel Chukwuemeka Onuchukwu said any conduct of another election is a rape of Igbo tradition, which the community cannot condone.
“An Igwe has been elected and has been given an authority (crown and offor) according to the tradition. Untill an Igwe receives an Offor and crowned, government certificate does not mean anything without him being crowned and given that Offor. On 30th of December, he was taken to the traditional ground and was crowned the Igwe of Oba, Igwe-elect waiting for government to give him certificate of recognition.
“For House of Assembly Committee on Public Petitions to tell us they are going to conduct another election, the tradition and custom spells it out that until this man is dead, this Offor cannot be withdrawn from him and you cannot conduct any election with that Offor.”
