RAYMOND OZOJI reports
The Chairman Anambra State Urban Regeneration Council and pioneer Managing Director of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) Arch. Michael Nkemakonam Okonkwo says he was approached by the people of Ihite in Orumba-South Local Government Area of the state to be the traditional ruler of the community during the scouting for a suitable replacement of the departed monarch Igwe B.O Ofu.
Okonkwo who spoke to HEADLINE NEWS exclusively in his office at Awka, said he rejected the offer and didn't fall for the temptation because on the one hand, it was not the turn of his village to produce the late Igwe's successor and on the other hand, he would not be responsible for Igweship tussle in his community.
The former Commissioner for Housing who stated that contrary to insinuations of crisis and rancour over who occupied Ihite traditional stool as wrongly peddled in the online news media, emphasized that Ihite community now has an Igwe-elect in the person of His Royal Majesty Igwe Timothy Ifurunwa, whom he said was unanimously and overwhelmingly elected by the entire people of Ihite town including himself because he was present on the day Timothy Ifurunwa was elected.
He said Ihite is a very peaceful community and governed by its constitution which provided for a rotational Igweship amongst the villages. He said that the traditional stool is not hereditary or allows another candidate from the former Igwe's village to assume the throne rather it provides for a democratic rotation through an election process such that nobody in Ihite town assumed or ascended the throne by prophesy, divinations or folktales.
Okonkwo who was also a former Commissioner for Environment, noted that Igwe Timothy Ifurunwa is so recognized such that the Anambra State Government has issued him Certification of Recognition and currently attends meetings of traditional rulers; describing him as the people's mandate irrespective of the malignant antagonistic tendencies of infinitesimal disgruntled elements in the community.
The American trained architect stated that it was the turn of Umuezeala village Ihite to produce the next Igwe for the community. That in Umuezeala village, a particular kindred was supposed to nominate persons for election to the throne of the Igwe but only Timothy Ifurunwa indicated interest for the traditional stool.
Okonkwo stated that it was at that point that another character in the community boasted that it was his turn to become the traditional ruler of Ihite. That the prophecy came to him during his childhood days that he has been ordained to be the next Igwe and to that extent, he must be the Igwe at all cost and not through an electoral process.
He pointed out that even when the persona was approached to pick his Expression of Interest Form, he blatantly declined threatening that he must be the Igwe with or without the consent of Ihite people. Okonkwo therefore described his attitude as a malicious act intended to disrupt the peace and stability they enjoyed in Ihite town even as he further reiterated that any disruption would not be treated lightly.
According to him, only Timothy Ifurunwa officially indicated his interest for the throne through the purchase of his form and participation in the election which was observed by officials from the State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs. He said as it stands, Timothy Ifurunwa is the duly elected traditional ruler of Ihite community and any other person parading himself as rival monarch is doing so at his own peril.
Okonkwo also disclosed that there is another body creating confusion and rancour in Ihite community. The body, according to him, is the old Igwe-In-Council whose usefulness expired with the demise of the former traditional ruler. He said this body claims to be supporting the persona who boasted that he has been ordained to become the next traditional ruler of Ihite.
The former ACTDA boss who stated that they have it on good authority that members of the old Igwe-In-Council were paid to do what they are doing, maintained that the old Igwe-In-Council seized to be relevant immediately the former Igwe died and that according to Ihite constitution, the new monarch will form his own Igwe-In-Council that he will work with while on the throne.