By Cajetan Mmuta Awka
The word is royal rumble and the name is death if the centre fails to hold. Tradition no doubt is at war with the law. Who can face the gods and who challenges the law with bare hands? These and many more are the raging questions begging for answers among indigenes of Alor community, the country home of Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in Idemili South local government area of Anambra State.

The agrarian community with an array of distinguished sons and daughters as well as popular billionaires and industrialists is in turmoil. The people are currently on each other’s throats. This is as a result of the controversies being generated by the alleged burial of one Chief Olisa Igbonwa alive by leaders and elders of the community.

Igbonwa was said to have declared war against his kinsmen over the decision of the leaders and elders of Alor community that he should renounce his new chieftaincy title of Ichie Ngene II of the community. The man at the centre of the crisis has vowed that he remains and must be addressed as the Ichie Ngene II.

However, leaders and elders of Alor community led by the President-General of Alor Peoples Convention (APC) and half-brother to Olisa Igbonwa; Chief Uzoma Igbonwa have

insisted that burying Osita alive was the resolution of the village. They maintained that he (Osita) had earlier been cautioned against taking a title that had already been taken by Ichie Samuel Anuna Udo since 2010.

The people described Osita’s title as illegal because the traditional ruler who conferred him with the title Mac Anthony Okonkwo had been dethroned by the Ogidi High Court in Idemili North and therefore all actions and consequences are of no effect.

But Olisa Igbonwa in reaction accused his half-brother Uzoma Igbonwa of joining forces with his opponents to undo him, stressing that he remains the Ichie Ngene 11 of Alor and that his half-brother has been masterminding all the conspiracy against him.

Also, Uzoma Igbonwa in a statement had denied having a hard in what is happening to his half-brother but accused him of causing trouble among his kinsmen.

Members of the APC have the view that the people of Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village simply did what was agreed long ago to automatically mete out to certain people that may indulge in that kind of abomination. They noted that in the case of Olisa Igbonwa, it was not automatic.

According to the people, Olisa Igbonwa’s action by taking an unauthorised title (Ichie Ngene 11 of Alor), while the incumbent is still alive was purely premeditated as he was fully aware that it would come to this if he dare go-ahead to take Ichie Ngene 11 title from Chinedu Elibe Okonkwo (now dethroned by the Court).

Secondly, the punishment was not automatically applied to Olisa Igbonwa as it was supposed to be. On January 3rd, 2022, when Ebenesi-Okebunoye village met for her General Meeting, instead of going ahead with Olisa Igbonwa’s punishment on that day, they decided to send a delegation to tell him the implications of his action.”

The community had insisted that “Olisa Igbonwa was given the full opportunity to redeem himself as the Village instructed him to denounce the so-called title of Ichie Ngene 11, within 30 days, that is: on or before February 3rd, 2022, or face the consequences.”

As President-General of Alor Peoples’ Convention (APC) and as a half-brother to Mr Olisa Igbonwa, I abstained from the two Ebenesi-Okebunoye village general meetings (January 3, 2022, and February 26, 2022), because I know that Mr Olisa Igbonwa’s case will be discussed and I wouldn’t want to partake in whatever decision/implementation Ebenesi-Okebunoye village will undertake.

He maintained, “There is nothing I can do in this situation because if it were another person from another family in Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village, I will be in the forefront to ensure full implementation of the Bye-law. Mr. Olisa Igbonwa is about 45 years of age, he knows the implications of his action, and therefore, must take full responsibility for such actions.”
Also, the Ichie II of Alor, Samuel Anuna Udo told newsmen that he was conferred the title in 2010 adding that Osita Igbonwa was aware that he has the title but choose to challenge the gods of the land, adding that what the community did was right as was agreed.

When journalists visited the dethroned monarch of Alor, Mac Anthony Okonkwo, his security aides said that he was not disposed to talk but promised that he would speak at the appointed time.

Meanwhile, supporters of Osita Igbonwa have threatened that they would do all they can to resist what they called intimidation by the elders of the community.

Recalled that the Anambra State Police command had on Wednesday two weeks ago debunked a social Media report of Chief Olisa Igbonwa who was alleged to have been buried alive for taking the Ngene title., saying that the publication was false and misleading.

The command has also waded into the matter with a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances and controversies in the case.

According to the social media report credited to one Ifeoma Okeke of Umunna TV, Chief Olisa Igbonwa was buried alive by elders of Okebunoye village in Alor community, which is the country home of former Governor of the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state.
In the said report, Ifeoma Okeke of Umunna TV was quoted as saying that the village elders met and took a decision to bury and mourn Chief Igbonwa alive for taking ‘Ichie Ngene’ title by himself in the community.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Ikenga Toochukwu, in a statement said, “The attention of Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a trending video clip and online publication credited to one Ifeoma Okeke of Umunna TV that one Chief Olisa Igbonwa was buried alive In Alor, Anambra State by elders of Okebunoye village, Alor, Idemili South local government area of Anambra state” and that the elders met and took a decision to bury and mourn Igbonwa alive for taking ‘Ichie Ngene’ title by himself in the community.

Ikenga said, “The publication is not only false but also misleading.” According to the statement, “The Command wishes to state that Olisa Igbonwa is alive and was never buried alive as alleged in the publication.”

He stated, “Consequently, the Command received a formal complaint from one chief Olisa Igbonwa that he received a chieftaincy title from HRM Igwe Alor but was threatened by one Mr Uzoma Igbonwa and others to renounce the chieftaincy title within 30 days or he will face dare consequences”

The PPRO added, “The Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, has ordered for discreet investigation into the matter and to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident to bring all perpetrators to book. The Commissioner of police also urged members of the public especially the press to always cross-check their facts before publication in order not to mislead the public.

The command said an investigation was still ongoing and further details shall be communicated on the incident.

At the moment, the community is torn between weighing the options of peace by allowing Chief Igbonwa to retain his title, a development that is already contemptuous and desecration of tradition and incurring the wrath of the gods of the land and a deadly consequence of going ahead to bury the man alive as had been resolved.

Whichever way it goes, the law is anxiously waiting for anyone who in breach, will bury Chief Igbonwa alive. It’s a contest of committing suicide and sleeping with the leprosy woman, Mbajiaku.

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No doubt, tradition, and law are at war as the elders have reeled out their verdict and are anxiously awaiting the expiration of the 30 days ultimatum to Igbonwa within which he is expected to relinquish the controversial title or go down the mother earth forcefully while seeing death with his two eyes coming to meet him.

Will he resist his kinsmen or bend to the tradition by taking another title? The evil bird in the midnight is awake and crying loud for those who have ears to hear. The Indigenes are faced with oddities. Who will bell the cat? The death kneil tolls endlessly to announce the uncertainty. But in all, a stitch in time saves nine.