Anambra community criticizes Obiano for allegedly imposing traditional ruler on them

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The Umudioka community in the Dunkofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Tuesday, criticized Governor Willie Obiano for allegedly imposing a traditional ruler on it.

The governor had recently presented a certificate of recognition to Chief Raphael Chukwura as the new monarch of the area.

The governor’s action was condemned by a cross-section of elders and stakeholders in the community, who insisted that the monarch was never chosen by the people.

Addressing journalists, the Chairman, Nzeoba Oji-Ani Umudioka, Chief Nwachukwu Chiezie, said the monarch did not emerge in accordance with the customary and traditional processes of selecting a traditional ruler for the community.


He said, “The people of the community had already unanimously in 2005 chosen Chief Harry Obi-Nwosu, a professor of psychology at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as their Igwe-elect. They had started according him full rights as their traditional ruler.

“He was even on the verge of being presented with a certificate of recognition by the then Governor Chris Ngige when an action instituted in court stopped any further action on the Igwe stool of the town.

“In addition to that lawsuit, which is still pending, there is a subsisting order of court, which restrained any person from parading himself as the monarch of the community or presenting himself to be accorded such recognition.

“When the rumour emerged that certain persons were attempting to lure the state government into giving the certificate of recognition to Chief Raphael Chukwura as the new Igwe of the community, my group wrote a letter to the governor through the office of his Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Matters asking him to resist any such pressure.”

Chiezie vowed that the people of the community would explore all traditional and legal means to ensure that the new monarch did not reign in the community.

“Allowing him to reign will set a dangerous precedent that the community doesn’t have customs and traditions for the enthronement of her traditional ruler,” he added.