By Our correspondent
The Anambra State Government has condemned the conferment of chieftaincy title on 40 persons in one day by Chief Daniel Obelle of Nawfia describing it as brazen disregard for law.
This was contained in a notice signed by the Commissioner for Local Government Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tony Collins Nwabunwanne.
Though, Nwabunwanne did not specifically mentioned Obelle in the notice, our correspondent learnt that the Nawfia Chief had apologized to the government for his action.
Nwabunwanne in the statement alluded that Obelle conferred the chieftaincy titles to some with questionable characters.
The Commissioner’s statement read in part, “A vast majority of traditional rulers conduct their exalted office with dignity and integrity and stick to the Code of Conduct and directives of the Ministry.
” However, a tiny few still act recklessly and in total disregard for the Code of Conduct of their office and directives of the supervising Ministry.
“For example, a few days ago, a former traditional ruler deposed by a court of law went ahead to confer phantom Chieftaincy titles on 40 individuals in one day (Some with questionable characters). This is brazen disregard for law”
In a swift reaction to Nwabunwanne’s notice, Obelle explained why he conferred the titles and apologized for his action.
He said “My attention has been drawn to a press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters., Mr. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne alluding to some Ndi Igwe in Anambra State that recently conferred chieftaincy awards on certain personalities without clearance from the state government.
“I wish to state that as a new comer to the royal throne of Nawfia Community, I was not aware the existence of the circular in question. Besides. I am not a member of the State Traditional Rulers Council where the said circular was issued.
“In the peculiar circumstances, I declare my unalloyed loyalty to Mr. Governor Prof C. C. Soludo, CFR, and my unreserved apology for the omission of not obtaining his approval before conferring the chieftaincy awards on deserving citizens who were thoroughly, screened before the awards were bestowed on them.
“Sir, it’s pertinent to state that the chieftaincy awards and commendation certificates are intended to motivate and galvanize indigenes and non-indigenes of Nawfia towards community development.
“As partners in uplifting Anambra State to make it liveable and secure, Mr. Governor, kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem and respect.”
Many media outlets had reported that Obelle on January 4th, 2024 conferred Chieftancy titles on about 40 persons in what he described as in recognition of their various commitment towards human capital development.
Obelle was crowned the monarch of Nawfia by a former governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, a few days to the end of his( Obiano’s) tenure in controversial circumstances.
Obiano had suspended the original monarch of Nawfia, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, and other 11 traditional rulers in the state for following an oil mogul Prince Arthur Eze to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
Within the pendency of Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo’s suspension, Obiano crowned Obelle as Nawfia traditional ruler.
Nwankwo thus challenged Obiano’s action in court up to Court of Appeal level wherein the Court ordered a return to status quo ante bellum(the situation as it existed before the war).
But Obelle had continuing to act as the monarch of the community unto this day.
Around September, 2023, Obelle celebrated celebrated New Yam Festival of the town as the traditional ruler of the community in defiance to government public announcement that Nawfia had no traditional ruler because of pending court cases.
On January 4, Obelle again celebrated the IGU ARO festival of the community as monarch wherein he conferred the chieftaincy titles to the 40 persons that the Anambra State Government had to condemn.
Our correspondent gathered that a certain top government official is behind Obelle making it difficult for government to take a decisive action on the matter.
A source said, “One Glamour is the person fuelling the crisis in Nawfia. He is the person behind Obelle and these things you see in Nawfia.
“But I tell you, Prof Soludo is man that respects the rule of law; at the appropriate time, the truth in the Nawfia traditional stool will manifest.
“How can you remove a traditional ruler just because he travelled to Abuja to visit a sitting president?That’s unconscionable,” a government source said.
