By Praise Chinecherem
After two decades of absence of traditional ruler in Nkwelle-Ezunaka community, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, three candidates would on October 28 be contesting the throne.
The candidates include former chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State, Chief Chris Eluemuno, Chief Akpachuna Obiora and Chief Oduche Chimereze.
Eluemuno was former Chief Press Secretary to then Enugu State Governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo and also represented Anambra State at the Constitutional Conference, (Confab), in Abuja.
Reacting on the election, President General of the community, Chief Willie Okafor lamented that the absence of a monarch has caused the community a lot for over two decades.
Okafor who disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen during the 2023 newyam festival of the former Ohanaeze chairman, said all was set for the contest.
He said, “We are prepared very well for the election of the igwe, you know that the storm has been carrying the thing around for a long time but it now has a date, that day by this hour, the result would have been announced.
“On 28th October 2023, that day Nkwelle will shake, after the gun powder, at the election venue, everybody should be going to the winner’s house to celebrate with him.
“The three contestants are Chris Eluomuno(Ogbuefi Nwajiugo), Ogbuefi Akpachuna Obiora (Omenife), and Ogbuefi Odiuche Chimereze. God will help us to elect the man of the people. We are being denied so many things because of lack of a monarch.”
On the newyam festival of Eluemuno the PG described the ocassion as a period of thanking God for abundant farm produce and also to prepare for farming season.
He explained that every titled man in Nkwelle was supposed to celebrate his new yam after that of the community.
“I have done my own, new yam festival has been there right from time immemorial, it signifies that faming has come to an end, and this is the season of eating, till march when farming will start again.
“If it were to be in the olden days, yam would be eaten all the way, it will be yam, yam all the time.
“New yam reminds us of our tradition, it teaches you that you reserve the yam for planting in the coming season, it teaches you to reserve for the rainy season, so that after making yourself happy you prepare well for march when planting season will start again.
“If you don’t make yourself happy after work it is not enjoyable, so that is the celebration we are doing today,” he further disclosed.
Earlier, Eluemuno corraborated the position of the PG that the community has not had a monarch for over two decades which had led to denial of several good things from State Government.
He pledged to restore backup in the community if he was elected monarch.
He said, “As far as Igweship is concerned, I am the forerunner, I am the first among equals and I believe my people will do the right thing. It is my turn to be the igwe, I don’t have any doubt about it.
“I have served my people severally, I have served my family as the chairman, I have served Nkwelle Ezunaka as the PG, two tenures, I served Anambra as the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, I have done enough that warrant my taking the kingship of this community.
“I reclaimed our lands, as PG, even this place I am living was occupied by another community, my people know that, I chased all of them away, Onitsha people occupied this place and I chased all of them away as the PG, so they know what I have done, they know what I am capable of doing.
“We need peace to prevail in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, and when we do the right thing, our youths will like to do the right thing. If the leaders do the right thing, their followers will like to do the right thing.”
On his part, chairman Umuonuo clan, Nwabufo Ogbogu said, ” Chris Eluomuno, is suppose to be our monarch, I started hearing his name right from childhood even before I was born.
“He has done a lot for the community, when I came in and saw all he has done in Nkwelle, I said he deserves the seat of the Igwe, that is why I designed caps in his honour as campaign for him in the coming election.
“He is more than qualified, I personally did it to support him, to encourage him.
I know Nkwelle has not had an Igwe for a long time, I have not seen with my eyes the Igwe of Nkwelle since I was born.
“I will like to see him as the Igwe of Nkwelle-Ezunaka, so I give him my support.They are three contestants and he is the best among the three,” he further disclosed.
Leader of Iyom, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Iyom Irene Oraefo, Senior citizen, said, “We are preparing very well for the election of the Igwe because Nkwelle has lost a lot in the government, when others get theirs due to the fact that we don’t have Igwe.
“We stand strongly on the election of Igwe on 28th October and must support a leader, for his leadership to be successful, to solve all the problems the community has been going through, to bring our share to us,” she stated.
Leader of Umuada, Umuonuora family, Wada Nkiruka Nwankwo said, “We came to stay with our brother and we stand with him on the election as the igwe, because he deserves it, we want igwe to come from our kindred,” she explained.
