The dethroned traditional ruler of Nawfia Community in Njikoka Council Area of Anambra State, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo has warned that nobody should come into Nwafia in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State on Friday, 22nd September, 2023 for the purposes of celebrating any new yam festival in the community.
Igwe Nwankwo in a warning signed by himself in his letterhead paper, said the new yam festival of the community was celebrated on the 15th of September by himself.
Nwankwo’s warning was sequel to an announcement/invitation by one Chief Ogochukwu Daniel Obele that he would celebrate the community’s new yam festival on Friday, 22nd,2023 as a traditional ruler.
Recall that Igwe Nwankwo was among the monarchs suspended by former governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano for visiting President Muhammadu Buhari for an undisclosed reason.
However, within the pendency of the suspension,Obiano crowned Obele as the new monarch of the community.
Igwe Nwankwo had earlier, obtained a court order, stopping Obele from parading himself as the community’s monarch, but the court order had been observed in breach.
In the statement he issued on Thursday, Igwe Nwankwo warned that nobody should venture into the community on Friday for the purposes of celebrating any new yam festival.
He said,”The general public is hereby warned that anybody parading themselves as Igwe/ Eze Nawfia is an impostor, except Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, pursuant to the ruling of Awka High Court of 21st June,2022 and 28th October, 2022.
“The ruling has not been upturned nor stay of execution granted.
“It is absolutely imperative to advise the general public to stay out of Nawfia for ANY NEW YAM FESTIVAL as that has been performed on 15th September,2023 by Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo.”
Speaking with TNC correspondent on the matter, the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Matters, Hon.Tonycollins Nwabunwanne said Government would brief security operatives on the issue on or before Friday about the court ruling on the matter.
He enjoined the people of Nawfia to remain calm as according to him, Government was on top of the situation.
However when contacted on the telephone on Thursday by our correspondent, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, said he had not got any information on the matter.
He said,” I don’t have any information on that. If there is any complaint there, Nawfia people should write to us. There’s no security threat as I have heard. This thing you are saying is more like information to me. Nobody has reported anything to us. For me, there is no issue. I don’t have any information on that.”
