Posted by By Anayo Okoli on
THE Obiship tussle in Onitsha took a new turn yesterday when another claimant, Fred Enwonwu, emerged and dismissed both Igwe Alfred Achebe and Chief Goddie Odukwe.
*Fred Enwonwu stakes claims, dismisses Igwe Achebe, Odukwe
ONITSHA - THE Obiship tussle in Onitsha took a new turn yesterday when another claimant, Fred Enwonwu, emerged and dismissed both Igwe Alfred Achebe and Chief Goddie Odukwe.
Enwonwu described as 'disappointing," last week's installation of Odukwe as the parallel Obi of Onitsha, noting that he was still very much in the race for the stool of Obi of Onitsha, saying his case against Achebe's reign is coming up in court next month.
He blamed the lingering Obiship crisis on former Governor Chimaroke Mbadinuju whom he accused of arbitrarily appointing Achebe the Obi of Onitsha.
But in a swift reaction, spokesman for Achebe's camp said: 'It is a positive development. It shows clearly that out of the 21 contestants you have two persons parading the town of Onitsha. All we know is that Onitsha is peaceful.
'In that election, Fred Enwonwu and Odukwe scored one vote each while Achebe scored 19 votes. The two have totally failed."
Enwonwu, however, called for a government judicial or administrative inquiry into the crisis, saying that is the only way to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.
'I want to state categorically and without any equivocation that I am still in the race for the stool of the Obi of Onitsha. I have a case in the Onitsha High Court in Suit No. 2/648/2003, against Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and others coming up on June 27, 2005 for hearing.
'It is clear that never in the history of Onitsha has the Obiship dispute been settled arbitrarily in the way and manner Governor Mbadinuju (allegedly) handled the problem. I can even go further to say that never in the history of the entire Igboland, Yorubaland, or Hausaland has an Obiship,Obaship or Emirship dispute been disposed off in such a cavalier, arbitrary and autocratic manner.
'It is on record that the Obiship disputes in Onitsha have always been settled by the government of the day, setting up a commission of Inquiry. Examples abound to justify this assertion.
'As the Obi-elect I have performed all the traditional rites leading to my coronation. All that remains is for me to go to the Udo Shrine and then be crowned the Obi of Onitsha. I have not done this because as a lawyer of 43 years post call at the Bar, I wanted to dethrone Nnaemeka Achebe via the court of law or by any competent judicial or administrative tribunal. The scenario has now changed with emergence of Amalunweze Odukwe, who now purports to be another Obi of Onitsha, a case of two Obis in one town. Both Odukwe and Achebe are not qualified to be the Obi of Onitsha, for reasons that will become obvious in a court of law or any judicial/administrative tribunal.
'Since the demise of Obi Ofala Okagbue, there has not been peace in Onitsha. It is an irony that because of the Obiship dispute, this ancient city on the banks of the River Niger which has for long been a symbol of tradition, culture, peace and tranquility is now an object of discord, ridicule, and acrimony with an unpredictable end. The custom and tradition of Onitsha must be upheld and not bastardised and this can only be achieved when the rightful Obi of Onitsha ascends the throne as the 21st Obi of Onitsha," Enwonwu said.