Brothers At War Over Installation Of A New King

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

This is not the best of times for Utuh Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State over the coronation of HRH Eze Peter Ilomuanya as the traditional ruler of the community.

The installation had divided the people into factions and the security in the community was said to have been comprised over the lingering crisis.

P.M.EXPRESS confirmed that the crisis is being championed by two illustrated sons of the community. One group is led by the Anambra newly appointed Commissioner for Finance Mr. Greg Obi, while another faction is led by the President General of the Utuh community, Barrister Fabian Onwuharu.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that the bitter fight which seemed to be an ego war started from the town meetings, to the police and has now moved to the High Court in Anambra State.

Some members of the community had expressed concern that the crisis was degenerating into violence as several  people have been attacked, arrested and detained by the police while many were said to be on the run.

The two gladiators, Mr. Obi and Onwuharu were said to be flexing muscle over the manner Onwuharu facilitated the installation of their king, Ilomuanya without the approval of Mr. Obi who was then the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs in Anambra.

It was gathered that when their former king died, it took some years before they agreed to install Eze Ilomuanya as king after some strange happenings, as the first person appointed died few days before the coronation.

However, when Eze Ilomuanya was nominated, the time frame for his coronation became the bone of contention between Obi, then the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Onwuharu.

It was gathered that Obi directed Onwuharu to suspend the coronation pending when the government will give approval for a date through him. But Onwuharu insisted that as the president of the town union, Obi will not have to choose for the community when they will install their monarch despite the fact they he was from the town.

It was gathered that Onwuharu went on, mobilised the king makers in the town and Ilomuanya was installed against the wish of Obi. It was then Obi remembered the insecurity in the town and capitalised on it. He suspended Onwuharu, ordered the town hall to be sealed and constituted a caretaker committee to be in charge of affairs pending the election of new officers.

However, Onwuharu was said to have mobilised his supporters, ordered them to break the key to the hall which they did and he continued to carry on as the president as his tenure will elapse by August 2018.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that while the crisis persisted, some elders had intervened but none of the gladiators shifted grounds instead the crisis worsened as days went by.

It was learnt that Onwuharu moved and instituted a suit at the court which may elongate his tenure beyond August 2018 when he was supposed to conduct an election and hand over to new executives. Apart from that, Onwuharu was said to have written petitions to the EFCC and other security agents linking Mr. Greg Obi with criminal matters in one of the collapsed banks.

It was gathered that stakeholders in the town had kicked against such petitions and court action which they described as overstepping beyond the boundaries that will worsen the crisis and impede development in the community.

During the stakeholders meeting held recently in Lagos, it was resolved that since Onwuharu had gone to that extent he was advised to step down before his tenure will elapse for peace to reign in the community. He was also urged to accept the caretaker committee and withdraw all suits against the Anambra State Government for the community to move forward.

However, supporters of Onwuharu will not have any of such advice and they had insisted that Onwuharu must continue as the President as his mandate will elapse in August 2018.