NORMALCY has relatively returned to the Nteje community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the election of Dr Charles Aduaka as the traditional ruler of the area.
To this end, the newly elected ruler has called on indigenes of the community to be law-abiding and have faith in government and its agencies to amicably resolve the ongoing impasse in the community.
Igwe Aduaka said the call became imperative, in view of the tension in the community, which he feared, might further endanger lives and property.
The community was recently engulfed in crisis, which claimed some lives and valuable property and subsequent arrest of some Nteje indigenes by security agents.
Dr. Aduaka, who spoke with newsmen in Enugu, however, urged Nteje elders to embrace peace and not to take sides no matter the interest they wished to protect.
He pointed out that the main reason for government’s intervention in the crisis, “is to ensure that the ensuing dispute is resolved and forestall people from taking the laws into their hands while appropriate actions is taken within the guidance of the law.”
The paramount ruler further explained that the issue was not that of a chieftaincy struggle as was wrongly speculated by some individuals, and stressed that it was an internal crisis among members of one of the quarters in the Nteje community.
“For the avoidance of doubt, after the demise of the Igwe Aborgu I, Igwe S.A.C Nnaemeka, the Igwe-in-Council requested that the quarter, whose turn it was to produce the next Igwe, should elect among themselves a candidate that will be presented to the community.
“On 25th July, 2009 during Nteje Peoples Assembly at Ama-Ana square, the Ikenga quarter could not produce a single candidate but instead, four candidates emerged namely Peter Chidi Uyanwa, Charles Aduaka, Ikechukwu Okechukwu and Rowland Odegbo.
“Based on the provisions of Constitution of Nteje community, Article 4, sub section C–J, the mandate of selecting the Igwe was taken over by the Igwe-in-Council and a new timetable was drawn for intending aspirants by the Igwe-in-Council.
“Only two of the candidates, Peter Uyanwa and Charles Aduaka, participated in the process and December 28, 2009 was picked for the election.
“On the day of the election, Peter Chidi Uyanwa stepped down for me, (Charles Aduaka) and a referendum was conducted and I got over 3,500 votes. On January 2, 2010 the (Igwe-elect) was presented to Nteje community at Ama-Ana square.
“On January 10, Nteje community presented the Igwe-elect, Charles Aduaka, to Oyi Local Government waiting for the Secretary to the Local Government to present same to the governor in compliance with Anambra State traditional rulers law.”
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