Ojoto Igweship crisis deepens as town crier , another risk death

www.odogwublog.com reports that Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra state is torn into two over who becomes the traditional ruler of the community.

It has already taken a bloody new dimension which resulted in the  town crier, Mr Emeka Uzor,          beaten to pulp for allegedly announcing that nobody has become the Igwe- elect and that the State government has ordered that every move about election of a new monarch should be suspended for now.

Another victim, Mr Chibuzor Chukwulobe, was reportedly stabbed at the

back in a beer parlour for opposing that a new Igwe has been elected .

Contacted in his hospital bed at Uzondu hospital Ojoto, the stabbed

Chukwulobe said, "we were in a beer palour when the issue of whether

Ojoto has got a new Igwe or not was raised and I told the youths there

that nobody has been elected and some of them opposed my view and

warned me to shut up or they will now deal with me.

On sensing danger I left the beer parlour and the boys trailed me and

on getting to a point they held me and started beating me and on the

process one of them stabbed me at the back and ran away, within a

minute I slumped and they ran away leaving me in the pool of my

blood."

"The next thing was that I saw myself at a hospital in Ojoto and the

matter is lodged at Ojoto police station"

In their reactions when contacted the two major contestants to the

Igweship stool, High Chief Gerald Mbamalu who is the Regent of the

community and Chief Dennis Adindu Okafor differed  in their views.

According to the Regent, the town crier was going round to announce to

the people that nobody has been elected as the Igwe-elect and that the

state government has directed that actions relating to production of a

new monarch should be suspended for now as the situation in the area

is degenerating to unbearable state"

"It was while he was making the announcement that some armed men in a

car trailed him and descended heavily on him and he collapsed and was

rushed to Uzondu hospital. I do not know if he has regained

consciousness but all I know is that he is placed on a danger list"

"There is also a youth, one Chibuzor Chukwulobe, that opposed his

fellow youths by telling them that a new monarch has not been elected

and he was stabbed at the back and the matter is now with the Ojoto

Police" he added further.

On the way forward he said Government has ordered that everything

about Igweship election should be suspended and we have to abide by

the order because we are not in a banana republic.

On the attack on the town crier and the boy , Chief Dennis Okafor said, "the town crier

was on his private business, he was not sent by the three authorities

who have the right to order him to make such an announcement"

"When I called the President General he said he did not send him, the

chairman of my village said no that he did not and Prof Victor Udosa

said also that he did not send him and when I called the town crier to

know who sent him he told me that until he comes to my house"

"The boy that was stabbed at beer parlour what has it to do with

Igweship crisis. They were sharing money given to them including the

town crier by money- bag contesting the Igweship and they had

misunderstanding and he was stabbed and town crier beaten. Since the

two incidents occurred have you heard of any incident again.