Chijioke Nwankwo never Nawfia monarch, was only a regent – Igwe Obelle
Community matters
By Ifeizu Joe
The traditional ruler of Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, HRH Igwe Dr Ogochukwu Daniel Obelle has said that embattled son of demised monarch of the community, FFBC Nwankwo, Chijioke Nwankwo has never been a monarch in the community.
Obelle who spoke to journalists in his palace during the new yam festival of the community on Friday said Chijioke Nwankwo was only a regent, who was given the Regency of the community after his father was brutally murdered.
“I’m the constitutionally elected Igwe of Nawfia community, and recognized by government of Anambra State, with certificate of recognition.
“Every Igwe has a wife that supports him in running the community, and it is in our constitution. Beside me here is my wife, Lady Florence Obelle.
“We’re here to address you because one miscreant who was never elected as Igwe is trying to cause confusion in our community.
“We have sent a message to tell him to hold his peace, and every Nawfia person knows that since 2001, he was installed as regent. A regent is not an Igwe, but someone holding space for an Igwe to be elected. His regency was to last for just 5 years, but he continued to parade himself as Igwe.
“How he became a regent was because of the assassination of his father who everyone loved. So his regency was out of pity because his father served so well.
“I was elected on February 26, 2022 and I was given the certificate of recognition afterwards. If Chijioke Nwankwo claims to be an Igwe, tell him to produce his certificate. In the archive of government in Awka, there is no other existing certificate, so Chijioke Nwankwo cannot be claiming to be Igwe.”
Obelle said that Nwankwo had tried to remove him through a court, but was only able to secure a court ruling, which he has already appealed, and has been set aside.
He said Nwankwo does not have the qualification to be the monarch of the community.
“Till today, at close to 70, he is not married. I used to be a diplomat, and when I was serving in Ethiopia, he reached me that he wants to marry an Ethiopian woman. I thought he was serious and I facilitated his visa, but he never got married.
“Part of the constitutional criteria to be Igwe in Nawfia is that you must have a diploma, but he has no certificate. He was my classmate in primary school and never passed any exam. His father was rich and tried to train him in many Secondary School, but failed. His father later packaged him to Christ the King College (CKC), but he still failed.
“That was when his father now sent him to US and he became a truck driver. How can such a person be the Igwe of Nawfia? He is a dropout, a drug addict who is always at Abakiliki Street hobnobbing with prostitutes, and you want such a person to become our monarch?
“I met all the condition for the Igweship as conducted by the town union. He is trying to cause trouble in Nawfia, but we have declared war against him. We are handling it and the CP, DSS and others are aware. The local government chairman is aware, the president general of Nawfia is aware and all these people are behind us, and we are dealing with this.
“Today is the iwa ji ceremony of Nawfia, which is important event in Igboland because of the importance of yam as the king of crop, and as you can see it is going on well.”
