By Tony Chuks
Abuja, NIGERIA — As tensions escalate over the Igweship throne of Oba in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, one of the candidates, Chief Sir Njubigbo, has praised the swift intervention of Governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to restore peace and order in the community. This follows a highly contested election that allegedly produced Chief Chinedu Emelobe as the traditional ruler of Oba, titled Eze Okpoko 2nd.
The dispute over who should ascend the throne of Oba has been ongoing for some time, but it took a dramatic turn last weekend when reports emerged that Chief Emelobe had been elected as the Igwe Elect of Oba. However, Governor Soludo, through the Commissioner for Local Government and Town Union Affairs, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, swiftly intervened, stating that the election was illegal. He ordered that any individual parading themselves as the monarch of Oba should be arrested by the police.
Governor Soludo, speaking through his Commissioner, made it clear that there was a pending court case regarding the election of a new traditional ruler for Oba, and until the matter was resolved, the community would have no monarch. The Governor’s decisive move to halt the illegal election has sparked widespread praise, particularly from Njubigbo, a major contender in the race for the Igweship throne.
In an interview with correspondents, Njubigbo, who hails from Aboji Akanano village in Oba and is a well-known Lagos-based businessman and philanthropist, expressed his appreciation for the Governor’s timely intervention. He commended Governor Soludo for ensuring peace and order were maintained in the community, emphasizing that Soludo’s leadership and his “Movement for a Solution” had been instrumental in restoring stability to the ancient kingdom of Oba.
Njubigbo, who is also the current Eze Ndigbo in Yaba/Lagos Mainland, explained that while the election process for the Igweship had initially been smooth, complications arose when certain influential individuals attempted to hijack the process in favor of their preferred candidate. According to Njubigbo, despite fulfilling all the necessary requirements to run for the position, including purchasing a nomination form, attending a screening panel, and complying with the constitutional rules, he began to notice irregularities. These included an attempt to exclude him from the election altogether.
He recounted the situation: “I was elected by my village, Aboji Akanano, to stand for the election on our behalf. I bought the nomination form and went through all the processes, including a screening panel. But suddenly, the organisers started playing pranks and breaching the constitutional rules. People began to see that there was a deliberate attempt to hijack the process in favor of a particular candidate. In fact, there was an attempt to exclude me from the election.”
In light of these developments, Njubigbo’s village, under the leadership of Nze Dozie Nweke, took the matter to court, seeking legal redress for the perceived injustice and the unfair exclusion of Njubigbo from the process. He firmly believes that the underlying cause of the current crisis is the attempt by some powerful individuals to control the election outcome and impose a candidate of their choice on the community.
Njubigbo’s call for justice in the Igweship election is not just about his personal ambition but about ensuring fairness and transparency in the process. He stressed that the way forward to resolve the current crisis and hold a peaceful election for Eze Okpoko 2nd is to allow all the candidates who secured nomination forms to stand for election on an equal footing. He stated: “The major issue here is that some individuals want to hijack the election in favor of their preferred candidate. For peace to reign and for a legitimate election to take place, all the candidates who secured the nomination forms must be allowed to stand under a level playing field.”
Njubigbo also commended Governor Soludo for his leadership in the matter, emphasizing that his timely action has brought much-needed stability to the community. “Once more, I thank the Solution Governor for bringing immediate peace to Oba,” he said. “I also want to appeal to the Commissioner of Police to ensure that any attempt by anyone, no matter how highly placed, to breach the peace in Oba should be resisted, with those found responsible being arrested and prosecuted.”
In his final remarks, Njubigbo made it clear that he remains committed to the race for the Igweship throne of Oba, stating categorically, “I am still in the race for the Igweship throne. All I am asking for is a fair election on a level playing field. If I lose the election, I will congratulate the winner and go home, but the process must be just and transparent.”
The ongoing Igweship saga in Oba is one of several similar controversies surrounding traditional leadership roles across the state. The dispute highlights the need for transparency, fairness, and a commitment to the rule of law in the selection of traditional rulers, whose influence and authority are significant in the social, cultural, and political life of their communities.
Governor Soludo’s intervention in Oba has underscored his administration’s commitment to ensuring peace and good governance across Anambra State. As the situation continues to unfold, the people of Oba will be watching closely to see how the matter is resolved and whether the election of a new Igwe will be conducted in a way that reflects the will of the people, free from manipulation or undue influence.
For now, the people of Oba, and indeed all Anambrarians, wait to see what the courts decide and whether the political will for fairness will prevail in the selection of the next traditional ruler. The hope is that a peaceful and lawful resolution will allow the community to move forward and preserve the integrity of its traditional institutions.
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