Maduako Igbokwe l Thursday, March 03, 2022
ONITSHA, Anambra – Alor Community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State is on fire. Mr. Olisa Igbonwa has declared war on his kinsmen for orchestrating his burial while he is still alive.
Alor is the home town of the current Minister for Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige. The community did a mock burial for Mr Olisa Igbonwa for defiantly taking Ichie Ngene 11 title of Alor community, a title already conferred on another person .
Mr. Olisa Igbonwa had on Wednesday stormed the Anambra Police Command Awka, declaring war against the leadership of the community, stressing that he remains the Ichie Ngene 11 of Alor community and nobody can take it away from him .
But the Alor community leadership led by the President General of Alor People’s Convention APC a half brother to Osita Igbonwa ; Chief Uzoma Igbonwa said burying Osita alive was the resolution of the village.
According to him , Osita had earlier been warned against taking a title that had already been taken by Ichie Samuel Anuna Udo since 2010.
The community also described Osita’s title as illegal because the traditional ruler that conferred him the title Mac Anthony Okonkwo had been dethroned by the Ogidi High Court of Idemili hence the actions and it’s consequences are of no effect.
But Osita Igbonwa has accused his half brother Uzoma Igbonwa of joining forces with his opponents to undo him, noting that he remains the Ichie 11 of Alor. He accused his half brother of masterminding all the conspiracy against him.
In a statement, Uzoma Igbonwa denied having a hand in what is happening to his half brother but accused him of causing trouble among his kinsmen.
In the opinion of the Convention, the people of Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village simply did what was agreed long ago to automatically be meted out to certain people that may indulge in that kind of ‘ÀLÙ’ abomination. In the case of Olisa Igbonwa, it was not automatic.
First, Olisa Igbonwa’s action by taken an unauthorised title (Ichie Ngene 11 of Alor), while the incumbent is still alive was purely premeditated as he was fully aware that it will come to this if he dares go ahead to take Ichie Ngene 11 title from Chinedu Elibe Okonkwo (now dethroned by the Court).
Second, the punishment was not automatically applied to Olisa Igbonwa as it was supposed to be. On January 3rd, 2022, when Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village met for her General Meeting, instead of going ahead with Olisa Igbonwa’s punishment on that day, they decided to send a delegation to tell him the implications of his action.
Olisa Igbonwa was given the full opportunity to redeem himself as the Village instructed him to denounce the so- called title of Ichie Ngene 11, within 30 days, that is, on or before February 3rd, 2022, or face the consequences.
As President-General of Alor Peoples’ Convention (A.P.C.) and as half-brother to Mr. Olisa Igbonwa, I abstained from the two Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village General Meetings (The January 3rd, 2022 & February 26, 2022 meetings), because I know that Mr. Olisa Igbonwa’s case will definitely be discussed and I wouldn’t want to partake in whatever decision / implementation Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village will undertake.
There is nothing I can do in this situation because if it were another person from another family in Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village, I will be in the forefront to ensure full implementation of the Bye-law. Mr. Olisa Igbonwa is about 45 years of age, he knows the implications of his action, and therefore, must take full responsibility of an such act .
Also speaking the Ichie 11 of Alor Samuel Anuna Udo told reporters that he was conferred the title in 2010 noting that Osita Igbonwa was aware that he has the title but choose to challenge the gods of the land.
According to him, what the community did was right thing that as was agreed. When reporters visited the dethroned monarch of Alor, Mac Anthony Okonkwo , his security aides said that he was not disposed to talk, promising to speak at the appointed time while the supporters of Osita Igbonwa threatened that they would do all they can to resist what they called intimidation by the elders of the community.
