Three people are vying for the position of traditional ruler of the Afara Ukwu autonomous community in the Umuahia North council area of Abia state, and their fight threatens to split the community apart.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, is the son of late Eze Kanu.
Chief Amaechi Ugweje, Sir Chukwuemeka Nwaobiala, and Anthony Chukwukwadoro Ndulaka, three of the community’s sons, are vying to become the Eze-elect.
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Chief Amaechi Ugweje or Anthony Chikwadoro Ndulaka cannot be given staff of office by the Abia State Government, according to an order from the Abia State High Court in Umuahia, which is presided over by Justice Ogbonna Adiele. The lawsuit brought by Nwaobiala contested Ugweje and Ndulaka’s rights to the stool. He demands that everyone should acknowledge him as the community’s Eze-elect.
Justice Adiele barred the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from presenting either Chief Amaechi Ugweje or Anthony Chikwadoro Ndulaka to the state government for recognition as a traditional ruler in suit No: HU/168M/2022 between Sir Chukwuemeka Nwaobiala (claimant/applicant) and the Abia state government, Ministry of LG and Chieftaincy Affairs, Attorney General of Attorney General of Abia state, Umuahia North LGA.
“It is hereby ordered that the second defendant be and is hereby restrained from presenting either the 5th or 6th defendants to the 1st defendant for crowning or installing or giving of staff of office or recognizing either of them as Egwu Ukwu of Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia state, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction,” the order read.
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Nwaobiala claimed in an interview with journalists in Umuahia that he entered the campaign for the leadership of the Afaraukwu autonomous community because he wanted to help his community flourish.
He added that he took part in both the screening process, which was announced by Chief Chimechefulam Odoemela, the community’s traditional prime minister, and the election that took place in February 2022.
Nwaobiala emphasized that the traditional prime minister, Eze in Council, and other community members witnessed his election as Eze elect at Union Primary School in Umuahia. He further claimed that Ugwueje and Ndulaka later began making claims that it is their turn to produce the late Eze Kanu’s successor.
He stated the constitution of the community only excludes the kindred where the last Eze came from producing his successor.
“Except Etiti Nabu where the late Eze hails from, other kindreds in the community; Ndagbo, Mgboko and Umuobasi , are entitled to contest in the election of the next Eze. In the case of Chief Amaechi Ugweje, Sir Nwaobiala said the Afaraukwu constitution does not permit an indigene based overseas to be installed as the Eze of the community,” he said.
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He questioned why Ugweje and Ndulaka were presenting themselves as the newly elected Ezes and criticized them of not going through the voting process. Nwaobiala insists that the deceased Eze’s cabinet members back him for the job.
He encouraged the state government to support the community’s efforts to enshrine peace by ensuring openness in the election of a new Eze and by designating a candidate who possesses the required decorum and honor as the community’s next Eze.
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