People of Umuotti Ajalli town, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State have made a passionate appeal to the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano to intervene in the chieftaincy crisis in the community.
The community, in the petition through their counsel, Jerome Chukwudozie Okolo SAN, appealed to Gov. Obiano, in the interest of peace in the community, not to recognise a rival traditional ruler in the community, Emesinwa Nwosu but rather the incumbent traditional ruler, Ikechukwu Nwosu, the Eze VII of Umuotti, Ajalli.
They posited that Eze Ikechukwu Nwosu has been their royal father since August 18, 2018, when he was installed and wondered why some prominent persons in the community are projecting Emesinwa Nwosu to edge Ikechukwu Nwosu aside, using their influence to prevail on Gov. Obiano to give Emesinwa staff of office for the traditional stool.
In the petition to the governor, the counsels stated as follows:
“We have been retained by the Umuoti Dynasty Kindred Community of Ajalli Town, Orumba North Local Government Area, who are the Judgment Creditors in Suit No: AG/117/2005, in which the High Court of Ekwuluobia on 14/8/2018 decreed their exclusive right of succession to the Ajalli Town Community Traditional Stool, pursuant to which an incumbent Town Traditional Ruler -Eze VIl of Ajalli in the person of HRH Eze lkechukwu Nwosu was on 18 August 2018 duly installed and Crowned, now awaiting HIS EXcellency’s due approval under the extant State Traditional Rulers Law.
“As per our instructions rumours now afloat indicate that a clandestine group masterminded by one of the son of Ajalli Community has recently secured the support of clergy man to gain support for a pretender to that Throne in the person of Emesinwa Nwosu purporting entitlement to that stool, with a view to presenting him to His Excellency for recognition.
“That mastermind surprisingly participated at the said Enthronement/crowning of HRH Ikechukwu Nwosu Eze VIl of Ajalli, at which he presented HIM with a Foreign Wine Gift. He was one of the Four VIPS of Ajalli as a two time Local Government Chairman that gave him confirmation letters with which the security agencies cleared HIM for recognition and is fully cognizant that Emesinwa Nwosu even though of the same Umuotti Dynasty Family is a Deportee from South Africa, still unmarried and indeed had committed his support in writing in approval for the coronation of his brother, in part of which ceremonies he also appreciated personally and effectively upon his return in the Umuotti Family Meeting of December 2018.
“The Umuotti Dynasty Family of Ajalli therefore in the circumstance considers it an obligation as parties interested to acquaint His EXcellency with these state of facts, to obviate any avoidable misgiving in according any such parallel recognition to any such request.
“We earnestly plead that in the present state of unrest engulfing the entire Federation of Nigeria, the setting up of Rival claims to any Town Community Traditional Stool ought not to be encouraged, hence this caveat.”
