The traditional ruler of Amichi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Ofobuike Ezeoke, has debunked his alleged dethronement and enthronement of another traditional ruler to take over from him.
He also refuted alleged division, vacancy and contest for the traditional stool of the community.
Certain members of the community had allegedly crowned a relation of the sitting monarch in a secret ceremony, alleging that he hardly stay in Nigeria due to his legal practice in United States.
Addressing reporters in his palace, Ezeoke, a legal practitioner in Nigeria and United States of America, dismissed as exercise in futility purported enthronement of his cousin as the new traditional ruler by those few individuals in the community.
He maintained that ascension to the Amichi traditional stool is based on primogeniture, from the forefathers to the occupier.
He warned that anybody involved in unnecessary contest to his dethronment was evoking the wrath of the gods of the land and must be ready to face the consequences of their action.
He added that such does not happen in Anambra State and he cannot honour the perpetrators with any engagement or even court action, because they are on a wild goose chase.
He said, “The right to the traditional stool is not something anybody can take through coup, stealing, brute force, or through the courts.
Speaking on behalf of the crowned monarch Prince Afamefuna Umezoke (Ezike Obiadada), Dr Jeff Okeke said for long that Amichi community had been in crisis, claiming that a factional group in Amichi crowned HRH Dr Ofobuike Ezeoke the traditional ruler of Amichi.
He said, “Igwe Ohazurume 1 of Amichi, Afamefuna Umezoke is the new Igwe of Amichi. He is the one generally accepted by Amichi. All the Obis of Amichi are here today for the coronation.
“We want an Igwe that will be with us to take care of our traditional issues.”
He named the four quarters of Opkala; Ezeudene; Afube and Ebenasa who he said were in support of the development.
