Azia’s kingship tussle: Govt calls peace meeting

From Ifeoma Ejiofor

In an attempt to find a lasting solution to the protracted kingship tussle in Azia community in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, the Commisioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Tony Collins Nwabunwanne has called a peace meeting which held on Thursday at SSG Hall, Government House, Awka.

The principal actors in the two factions involved in the tussle were hosted in a peace finding meeting.

The commissioner took time to listen to the past and present President Generals(PGs) of the community, title Chiefs, Elders and other Stakeholders as they narrated what they know about the crises.

Two contestants to the throne, Prof Titus Eze and Chief Felix Ifeanyimuo were locked in the struggle over who becomes the monarch, when suddenly, Prof Eze died.

Ifeanyimuo has since then been tasking the state government to issue him a Certificate of Recognition as the monarch, but a village in the community, Umudiokpara has continued to insist that a new contestant will be presented to vie against Ifeanyimuo, as they are the village whose turn it was to present a monarch.

Some notable elders of the community who spoke either called for a fresh election, while other insisted that Ifeanyimuo should be issued Certificate of Recognition as monarch.

A priest, Rev Fr Hyginus Aghaulor in his speech insisted that Umudiokpara is the right village to produce Igwe for the community, as such a fresh election should be conducted, at least to give them the opportunity.

Nwabunwanne who presided over the meeting promised that soon, government will take a stand on the kingship tussle in the community, and it’s stand will benefit all.