Crisis is brewing in Ihite Community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the announcement of a date for the new yam festival of the community, despite a pending dispute over the throne.
Chief Timothy Okwudiri Ifurunwa had in January 2026 been installed as the traditional ruler of the community after he was issued a certificate of recognition by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Before his installation, members of Ihite Traditional Council, the body saddled with the job of selecting the king had frowned at the selection process, insisting that they were sidelined, and a fake council used to prosecute the job.
They challenged the selection in court, and secured a court order annulling and setting aside the coronation, until all matters pending in court about the selection were duly treated.
Last week, Timothy Ifurunwa announced the date for the town’s new yam festival. This irked members of the alleged sidelined traditional council who insist that with the throne still in dispute, the disputed monarch had no right to fix a date for the festival.
Speaking through their lawyer, N.I Onyeakpa (Esq), the council petitioned the Anambra State Governor through the commissioner for Local Government, Town Union and Chieftaincy Affair, Vin Ezeaka and the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, seeking a halt of the event to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The petition which was made available to our correspondent and a court order by the State High Court, Umunze, setting aside Ifurunwa’s coronation, called on the state government and the police to save the community from the impending crisis.
In the letter, Onyeakpa said: “It is our brief that our clients are members of Ihite Traditional Council, selected by various villages making up Ihite during the time of H.RH Igwe B.O. Ofu Eze Amama I of Ihite. Since his demise in 2020, our clients in compliance with subsisting Chieftaincy Constitution of Ihite continued performing traditional functions of the town, including announcing dates for the new yam festival.
“We’re unhappy that the President General of the community, Mr George Madu and some cabals in the town unilaterally amended the Chieftaincy Constitution of the town, without due process and pronounced Mr Timothy Okwudiri Ifurunwa as the Igwe elect of the town.
“The crux of this petition is to call your attention to the fact that the status of the Igwe in Council of Ihite is a subject matter of litigation in Suit NO. HOS/47/2024, yet Okwudiri Ifurunwa is parading fake people as members of Ihite Traditional Council, performing the duty of our clients, who are the authentic members of the Ihite Traditional Council of the town, until contrary is proved.
“Furthermore, the action of Okwudiri Ifurunwa in fixing 29 September, 2026 as date for Ihejioku and New Yam festival, when the subject matter and proper people to, perform the function is pending in court amount to disrespect, and such action is supposed to be condemned by your office.
“In the light of the above, we are aware that the matters of this nature are within the Jurisdiction of your office as Chief Security Officer of the State to call Ifurunwa to order to avoid breakdown of law and order. Sir, more so we are calling on you to use your good office to condemn the action and direct Okwudiri Ifurunwa and his collaborators to respect the Rule of Law and stop further move on the proposed New Yam festival fixed on 29″ September 2026, until the decision of the High Court on that matter.”
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