JUST IN; Confusion as two Traditional Rulers emerge in one community
The Obibi- Uratta community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State is reportedly in chaos following the emergence of two Traditional Rulers laying claim to its seat of power.
According to reports, tension gripped the state last Friday when the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, gave a staff of Office to Bon Ariri to head the community, despite its ruler, Eze Professor Amobi Uwaleke, still holding the fort.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday at his palace in Obibi-Uratta, about the controversy, Eze Uwaleke, expressed shock at the development.
He said he was surprised hear that a new staff of office has been given to another person as a traditional ruler of the community, despite the fact that there was no allegation of corruption brought against him or a plebiscite conducted in his community on whether he should continue as the traditional ruler of the community or not.
“The govt has not sent people to call me that I am no more the Eze, or written any letter that I am not the Eze of my community, whether the govt has the right to tell me I am no more the Eze is a matter for further discussion. I know the governor is knowledgeable for the govt to say an Eze is removed without following the guidelines they know the implication,” he argued.
“In a case of there is any corruption, they could have set up a committee to look into any allegations or set up a plebiscite for the community to come out and decide if they still want me to continue to be their Eze,” he stressed.
He explained that: “Eze is made by the people and for the people. The community select their Eze and govt does not make an Eze, what the government does is issue a certificate of recognition and the govt may issue a letter of recognition and possibly staff of office that is what the constitution says.”
“In the case of my community, we follow our tradition in the making of the Eze. When our people want to select their Eze, it went through the Oha Supreme council after they confirmed before you will start going to the local level and the state level. So, somebody cannot come and claim to be the Eze of a community. So, the letter of recognition was for me came on the 14 of August 2018,” he added.
