A brewing storm is threatening to upset the peace in Enugwu Agidi, Anambra State, as the community’s monarch, Igwe Michael Chidozie Okekeuche, faces allegations of violating the town’s customs and traditions.
The Enugwu Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) has petitioned the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, the Igwe-in-Council, and Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, over the monarch’s actions.
At the center of the controversy is the upcoming 2nd Offala Festival, scheduled for December 31, 2024, where the Igwe plans to coronate new Ichies and confer honorary Chieftaincy titles on certain individuals without following due process.
The EBU claims that this move is a blatant disregard for the community’s constitution, laws, and traditions.
According to the EBU Constitution, the Igwe is subject to the laws and customs of Enugwu Agidi and should not tamper with them.
However, the monarch has allegedly been in serial breach of these laws, creating tensions and divisions within the community.
The EBU has specifically cited Sections 45, 46, and 47 of its constitution, which regulate the conferment of honorary Chieftaincy titles and emphasize the need for recommendations to be made to the EBU Central Executive Committee (CEC) for consideration.
The petitions, signed by Hon. David Chukwuebuka Onuorah, President General of EBU, and Anuta Israel Chineze, Secretary General, have been copied to the DSS and other authorities. The EBU is calling for the Igwe to be held accountable for any breach of public peace, law, and order that may arise from his actions.
In a recent EBU-Nig General Assembly Meeting, the Igwe-in-Council was directed to submit the names of those to be conferred with Chieftaincy titles, but they failed to do so.
The General Assembly has since resolved that anyone conferred with a Chieftaincy title without due process will not be recognized as a chief by the community.
As the situation unfolds, the people of Enugwu Agidi are urging the authorities to intervene and ensure that the community’s constitution, laws, customs, and traditions are respected.
With the fragile peace in the town hanging in the balance, all eyes are on Governor Soludo and the Commissioner for Local Government to take decisive action and prevent anarchy from erupting in Enugwu Agidi.
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