By Sunny A. David, Onitsha
Tension has gripped the people of Nnobi community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, as they await the judgment of a state high court that is expected to be delivered on October 10.
The litigation over who is the authentic traditional ruler of the town between Engineer Nick Obi, a former Commissioner under former Governor Peter Obi’s administration and Chief Ebubechukwu Etudoh, a Lagos-based legal practitioner.
The Igweship dispute which has now lasted for seven years has pitched the community against one another since former Governor Obi’s government issued a Certificate of recognition to Engineer Obi.
However, not happy with the development, Chief Etudoh who is also claiming to be the rightful occupant to the throne went to Court to seek, redress having established his own Town Union with executives known as Nnobi own Development Union, while Engr. Obi belongs to a functional Town Union also known as Nnobi Welfare Union.
As it stands today, the community seems to have no traditional ruler, while wait for the state High Court judgment lasts.
Last Saturday, when our correspondent visited the Community to mark the end of its Ashiaolu (Afiolu) New Yam Festival, the evidence dawned that brothers were indeed divided amongst one another.
While masquerades and some indigenes dropped to the usual Nnobi Centre to celebrate their own festival which was organized by Chief Etudoh’s group, Nnobi Town Development Union, Engineer Obi’s group, Nnobi Welfare Union gathered at Umuoji square to celebrate their own. The square is believed to be the ancestral home of the progenitor of the Town with a shrine standing at the edge of the square.
Speaking to our correspondent, the President-General of Nnobi Welfare Union, the group that supports Engr. Nick Obi said, Chief Johnson Edokobi said there was no dispute in the Community as the government has recognized Engr. Obi as the traditional ruler of the town, stressing that anybody claiming to be the traditional ruler other than the one reorganized by the government is a pretender.
At Chief Etudoh’s House, Ubaha Village, Nnobi where his supporters had gathered to wine and dine after the celebration at Nnobi Centre, the former Governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi of deservating the land by imposing Engr. Obi to the Community.
He said that Oni was not qualified to rule the Community because of stains on his integrity and lacking in character and appealed to Gov. Obiano to right the wrong
