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By Madu Obi
One of the chiefs laying claim to the traditional stool in Azia, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State, Chief Felix Ifeanyimuo, has lamented the lingering crisis in the community, alleging that some influential people in the area are feeding from the crisis.
A section of the community recently went to the Government House in Awka and submitted a letter to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to authorize the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, to conduct election for the 12 people that have indicated interest in becoming the traditional ruler of the community.
They accused Ifeanyimuo of fueling the crisis and causing division among the people.
But addressing reporters in Awka, Ifeanyimuo said it was his opponents that have caused confusion in Azia, adding that most of them have not stepped foot in the town because they are afraid of being confronted by the people.
Recalling the events that led to the crisis, he said: "I am the Igwe -elect of Azia. We conducted election for the Igweship stool about nine years ago. I contested with the late Prof. Titus Eze and two of us emerged from our two villages and a peace committee headed by Rev. Fr. Tutus Nnabugwu was set up to find a solution to the crisis that reared its head after the election.
"The committee recommended two of us to the state government to choose one of us. The state government set up another panel on Azia chieftaincy dispute and two of us were invited to government house. It was not long after it that Prof. Eze died.
"Surprisingly again, some people in the other camp sued me, which made the present governor to suspend issuing me with the certificate. The same group wants the government to start another election process and we said no.
"I was advised by government to convene a peace meeting to appease those who have been causing the trouble. That was the meeting I convened at Asaba.
"After the meeting, they wrote another letter to our people that the process for the selection should start all over when I am already the Igwe- elect and it was not what we decided at the Asaba meeting".
He said it was unfair for his opponents to say that he is not qualified to be a traditional ruler because his father is still alive, citing some communities whose traditional rulers still have their fathers alive.
He also said that the allegation that he is not residing in the community does not hold water, arguing that being a traditional ruler does not mean that one should stay in the village and just be breaking cola nut.
"As a young man, I should have something tangible to be doing. But I will ensure that functional committees are on ground to handle emergencies in my community", he said.
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