Tension in Anambra, as community disowns missing monarch, Nnaji

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Tension increases in Ogwuaniocha community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, as citizens at the weekend, disowned it’s monarch, Igwe Oliver Nnaji, who was allegedly missing or presumed dead.

The community insisted that they will not recognize him (Nnaji), even if he eventually resurrects or resurfaces as being currently speculated in some quarters in the area.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that Nnaji”s supporters and relatives have been wooing opposition group to join them in welcoming back the missing monarch (Nnaji) from his yet to be identified journey, and should allow him to reign for three more years as part of the reconciliation of the crisis that have been rocking the community.

The secretary, Odua (Igwe) in- council, Chief Isadebe Kenneth Sunday confirmed that the Monarch’s relations and supporters are pleading that the monarch be accorded rousing reception that he is going to resurrect for peace to reign supreme.

Isadebe made the confirmation while reacting to the rumor of resurrection of the monarch, Nnaji after three years of his alleged killing/missing.

“Yes, they are begging now that we should join them to receive Oliver Nnaji back to our community and allow him to continue to reign for the next three years to be able to restore peace which has eluded us since he (Oliver) imposed himself as our monarch, instead of our Igwe-elect, Igwe Ogidiga Ogana. So how come that they are begging that the dead should rule the living.

“Oliver Nnaji can never be recognized by us because he never went through due process to be issued with certificate of recognition by former governor Willie Obiano and we urge Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to come to our rescue by restoring peace in our Ogwuaniocha community,” he pleaded.

Also, a former Igweship candidate of the community, Chief Christopher Nduba Obumselu, disclosed that, “I was the one they wanted to be their king before Oliver Nnaji objected and I and others who were contesting signed for peace to reign.

“There is lobbying and intrigues for us to join hands in welcoming Oliver who was presumed dead, back to our community and those who refuse will be termed opposition and arrested. Oliver’s people know his whereabouts, that he is alive and not dead, if not why are they pleading that we join in welcoming him to continue to rule us? when he didn’t go through normal process to be monarch,” he questioned.

Also, a community leader, Ogana Anthony Obidigbo, reiterated that he can not be deterred by the antics of the opposition and those oppressing defenceless people in the community from aiding the oppressed.

“Those who are pleading that we accept the assumed dead Oliver as king, if he comes back are his cohorts. No fewer than 40 innocent people have been arrested in this case of missing or dead Igweship saga.

“We plead to Governor Soludo and security operatives to prevail on the wife of the missing monarch, Ngozi Nnaji, to disclose where the husband is staying. Why are they asking us to allow the monarch to return when they said we killed him,” he asked.

A member of Odua in council, Chief Oliver Nwabugwu, said he will never recognize Oliver Nnaji as monarch, adding that children are not enthroned as Monarchs in Igbo land, and wondered why somebody like Oliver Nnaji will expect him to accord him respect, when he was not aware of his enthronement as Ogwuaniocha monarch.

“I can’t welcome him, if he resurrects. when his family and cohorts accused us of being behind his death. That means he is somewhere, while innocent ones are being incarcerated in detention facilities. I can’t welcome him as my king, he is not my king and I don’t know when he was enthroned as a king,” he fumed.