How Many Escaped Death During Ofala/Yam Festival In Oriade LCDA Over Ezendigbo Tussle

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Nigeria Police Force averted bloodshed at Safaya Event Center in Oriade LCDA following the intervention of the Chairman Council of Ndieze, Lagos State, Eze Chika Nwokedi.

The battle was between Eze Emmanuel Chukwuakalikamadu and Eze Umenwekwe Chukwukadibia, who are laying claims as the authentic Ezendigbo in Oriade LCDA, which has been the bone of contention.

Trouble was said to have started after Eze Chukwukadibia fixed his Ofala and New Yam festival at Safaya Event Center close to the palace of Eze Chukwuakalikamadu, who had insisted that he is the only Eze Ndigbo in Oriade LCDA.

It was gathered that three days to the event,  Eze Chukwuakalikamadu wrote a petition to the Area Commander, FESTAC Command that there will be serious trouble if Chukwukadibia holds the event, which could lead to bloodshed in the area because his group will disrupt the event.

Follow the report, the Area Commander summoned the owner of the event center and ordered him to cancel the event while forcing him to sign an undertaking that the event has been called off.

However, Eze Chukwukadibia had made arrangements and spent huge sums of money in preparation for the event. In the morning of the day of the event, the threat was real and he was ordered to cancel the event.

Thus, Chukwukadibia contacted Eze Nwokedi, who is the Chairman of Ndieze and Special Guest of the occasion, who in turn contacted the Police high authorities and Police officers were mobilized to the venue and the event was eventually held but by then many invited guests had stayed away.

When P.M.EXPRESS reporter contacted Eze Chukwuakalikamadu, he confirmed that he actually mobilized to stop the event before the Police high authorities mobilized officers to the venue and the event was finally held very late.

On why he chose to do such a thing bearing in mind that Eze Chukwukadibia had already spent huge sums of money in preparations for the event, he explained that he had consistently said it that Chukwukadibia is not a King in Oriade and does not live in Oriade under Amuwo Odofin LCDA.

He explained that Eze Chukwukadibia lives in Ilufe area of Ojo LCDA and there was no way he will come to Oriade LCDA to be a King and that it is not acceptable by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and stakeholders in Oriade LCDA.

“If he is claiming to be a King, he should go to Ojo, where he lives and we cannot accept such here because I am the only recognized Ezendigbo in Oriade LCDA” he stated.

On the part of Eze Chukwukadibia, he insisted that he is the only authentic Eze in Oriade LCDA and that he was crowned Ezendigbo after some years before Eze Chukwuakalikamadu began to lay claim to be Eze Ndigbo in Oriade.

He explained that he was duly recognized by Ezendigbo, Lagos State,  Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu,  king makers led by Chief John Uche, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State and he has certificate of recognition for it.

P.M.EXPRESS findings revealed that both Eze Chukwukadibia and Eze Chukwuakalikamadu have certificates of recognition from both Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo Speaking Community as Ezendigbo in Oriade LCDA.

It was obvious that the confusion was caused by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo Speaking Community, which crowned two Ezes in one LCDA.

Some of the Igbo stakeholders expressed regrets over the ugly situation and explained the implications, which is that once an Eze has been crowned, it is for life and he cannot be deposed unless he commits a sacrilege.

“The only solution to resolving the matter is if any of them – Chukwukadibia or Chukwuakalikamadu dies. Otherwise, they will remain king in line with Igbo culture and tradition.”

“And if any of them steps down, such king will proceed on self exile and will leave Lagos State in line with Igbo tradition and culture ” a source stated.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that it is not only in Oriade LCDA that the Igbo Speaking Community and Ohanaeze Ndigbo had caused the confusion of crowning more than one Ezendigbo in a given LCDA.

It was said to cut across every other LCDA in the State including Alimosho,  Mushin,  Osolo/Oshodi, Ojo, Badagry,  Eti-Osa, Lagos Island and among others.