Displeased with the alleged plan by some alleged unqualified powerful members of Nteje community in Oyi Local Government Area Anambra State, to contest for the vacant seat of the traditional ruler of Nteje community, a centenarian, Mazi Onyekwe Akwuba, has told Governor Chukwuna Soludo to ensure that the zoning formula for the race for contest is respected
He also urged aspirants form other quarters of the community who have taken their turns through the reign of the two late traditional rulers of the town not to destroy the zoning arrangement among the three quarters of the community with their ambitions.
Addressing newsmen in his compound in Umunnakwa Agwa, Nteje, during the Ifite Nteje Elders, press briefing and presentation of aspirants to the vacant seat, which the immediate past traditional ruler of the community, late Igwe Rowland Odegbo left, Mazi Akwuba, who is now 120 years said that Nteje community is made up of three quartets, namely Ezi Nteje, Ikenga Nteje and Ifite Nteje.
He said that Eze and Ikenga Nteje Quarters, have taken their respective turns for the seat of the traditional ruler of the community with the emergence of late Igwe S. A. C. Nnaemeka, Aborgu I, who reigned from 1976 to 2007 and late Igwe Rowland Odegbo, Aborgu II, who reigned from 2010 to 2022.
He said that equity and fairness demand that since the two quarters of Ezi and Ikenga Nteje, have taken their turns with the reign of the two demised monarchs, Ifite Nteje quarters, should be allowed without any obstructions from any aspirants from the other two quarters to emerge as the traditional ruler of the town.
Mazi Akwuba therefore, appealed to the Anambra State government, particularly Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to ensure that only aspirants from Ifite Nteje, contest and the winner enthroned and recognized by his government.
The centenarian who was surrounded by Ifite Nteje elders while he addressed newsmen, said that during the processes of enthronement and subsequently, the tenures of late Igwe Nnaemeka and his successor, late Igwe Odegbo, there was no obstruction from anybody from Ifite Nteje, for them and wondered why now it is the turn of Ifite Nteje quartets to produce the successor to the vacant seat, some people are trying to put obstruction.
According to Mazi Akwuba who is said to be the oldest man now living in Ifite Nteje and incontrovertibly, in Nteje community as a whole, urged Governor Soludo to caution some of his aides to refrain from being used to truncate the zoning arrangement for the seat of the traditional ruler of the town, unless they are bent to cause trouble in the community.
“Ezi Nteje quarters has taken their turn of producing Nteje community traditional ruler with late Igwe S. A. C. Nnaemeka, Aborgu I, ruling from 1976 to 2007. Ikenga quarters took their own turn with the emergence of late Igwe Rowland Odegbo, Aborgu II, ruling from 2010 to 2022, before his passing to the great beyond. It is therefore the turn of Ifite Nteje Quarters, to produce the next traditional, since Ezi and Ikenga Nteje, respectively, have produced the towns traditional rulers between 1976 to 2022.
“It will be injustice, truncating and destroying the zoning arrangement among the three quarters of Nteje namely Ezi Nteje, Ikenga Nteje and Ifite Nteje, for any aspirant from Ezi and Ikenga Nteje to present themselves to Nteje community and state government for the vacant seat of the Aborgu III, which is the rightful turn of Ifite Nteje quarters to produce the traditional ruler.
“it is only members of Ifite Nteje quarters that are qualified to contest and for the winner among them to occupy the seat of the Igwe of Nteje community. We therefore, appeal to Governor Soludo, never to accept, recognize or issue Certificate or Recognition and Staff of Office to any person except the one coming from Ifite Nteje Quarters.
“The truth I know from my long years in this world which I understand is not by my power, but the grace of God, is that it is the turn of Ifite Nteje quarters to produce the next traditional ruler of Nteje town. I want Governor Soludo to listen to me as what I am telling him is the whole truth about Nteje kingship.
“The zoning arrangement between the three quarters of Nteje is still in existence, it is therefore, the right of Ifite Nteje quartets, to produce the next traditional ruler of the town, the other two quarters of Ezi and Ikenga Nteje, respectively have taken their turns.
“We understand that somebody from Ikenga Nteje where the immediate past traditional ruler, late Igwe Rowland Odegbo, comes from is presenting himself for the vacant traditional rulers stool, we see that move as a plan to truncate the zoning arrangement of the three quarter of Nteje, we will resist such move.
“it will not stand, we know Governor Soludo as a main who believes in equity and fairness and therefore, will not support anything that will set Nteje town on fire. We urged the man presenting himself from Ikenge Quarters to avoid acts capable of setting the community on fire. We have had enough of crisis.
“I Mazi Onyekwe Akwuba, is therefore, appealing to Governor Soludo to disregard, ignore and never to accept any move or gestures by anybody to truncate the Ifite Nteje people’s right and wish to produce the next traditional ruler of Nteje town, that move by that individual or any other person that will present himself from Ikenga or Ezi Nteje for the vacant Igwe’s seat is capable of causing confusion and enthronement of anarchy in the entire town.”
Also in a letter the elders of community wrote to Governor Soludo, and a press statement issued by the Ifite Nteje Elders, both signed by their Chairman, Chief Uyammadu Amakom, Secretary, Chief Joe Okolougo, and Mazi Onyekwe Akwuba, eldest man in Ifite Nteje, and made available to newsmen, they also told the Governor to conduct investigation of all they have said about the processes of election and enthronement of Nteje traditional rulers and the turn of Ifite Nteje quarters to produce traditional ruler of Nteje town to succeed late Igwe Odegbo.
