By Cajetan Mmuta
Indigenes of Alor community, the country home of Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state are currently on each other’s throat following the generated by the alleged burial of one Chief Olisa Igbonwa alive by leaders of the community.
Chief Olisa Igbonwa was said to have declared war against his Kingsman over the decision of the leaders and elders of the Alor community that he should not be his new chieftaincy title of Ichie Ngene 11 of the community.
The man at the center of the crisis has vowed that he remains and must be addressed as the Ichie Ngene 11.
However, leaders and elders of the Alor community led by the President General of Alor People’s Convention! A.P.C) 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 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 A.P. C have the view that the people of meet-Ebeneser Okebunoye Village simply did what was agreed long ago to automatically met 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 unauthorized 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 do-ahead are gone 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.”
“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 (A.P.C.) and as a half-brother to Mr. Olisa Igbonwa, I abstained from the two Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village General Meetings (The January 3rd, 2022 & February 26, 2022 meetings), 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.
“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.”
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Also, the Ichie 11 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 newsmen 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.
