No Igwe elected in Ishienu Amofu — Ezeoha

An indigenous group in Enugu State, the Ishienu Amofu Peoples Assembly in Nkerefi, Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu State, has said no election has been held to select a new king for the community.

Spokesman of the Assembly, Prince I. O. Ezeoha, in a statement, while reacting to an online publication that claimed that Chief Michael Christian Ogbonnaya has been elected as the new Igwe, noted that the Enugu State Government, Ministries, and the general public will be duly informed when a new Igwe emerges.

The statement read, “We, the people of the Ishienu Amofu Peoples Assembly, have read with amusement a purported publication that claimed that an Igwe of Ishienu Amofu Nkerefi has emerged.

“In that publication, the claimant claimed he emerged as the Igwe elect at an election that was held on March 30, 2024, in Umuogbii village square, Amofu, Nkerefi.

“Let it be on record that no election was held anywhere in Ishienu Amofu Nkerefi on March 30th, 2024, or any other date for that matter. So, if there was no election, how can an Igwe emerge?

“It is sad that a once-respected son of Nkerefi is struggling to impose himself on the people by claiming our revered Igwe’s throne and parading himself as our traditional ruler and spiritual leader.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the people of Ishienu Amofu Nkerefi hereby vehemently state that the claimant is an impostor and an opportunist trying to assume an office he knows nothing about.

“Ishienu Amofu Nkerefi community elects its Igwe, and as far as Mr Ogbonnaya never went through the process of an election, never contested, and never won, he is just dwelling in a dream world of wishful thinking.

“We encourage everyone to tread with caution when dealing with him, as he does not represent the Ishienu Amofu Nkerefi people in any capacity whatsoever.

“The congratulatory message he sent to our executive governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, which was published in that online media, is a dubious action.

“The Enugu State Government, the ministries, and the general public should be aware that the electoral process that will give us an Igwe has not been held yet, and the public shall be informed once an election is held.

“They will also be informed when a new Igwe emerges, and he will be formally presented to the relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, and also our dear Governor.”

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