Emma Elekwa
People of Ndikelionwu Community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State have staged a peaceful protest over traditional stool crisis rocking the town.
They called for urgent intervention of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ensure the will of the people prevailed in the process.
The protesters, in their large numbers, marched to the Community Secondary School, carrying placards with varying inscriptions such as, “Imposition Is Oppression, Hands Off Ndikelionwu Stool,” “We Did Not Choose Kanu, We Chose Barrister Ekeneme Ike.
Others placards bore, “Certify the People’s Choice,” and “The People of Ndikelionwu Are Not Slaves; Certify Our Chosen Eze, Barrister Ekeneme Ike,” among others.
Speaking to journalists, Secretary of Umu-Eze-Ikelionwu Royal Family, Prince Chimezie Mbaonu claimed that the royal family, in charge of producing the king in the community, chose Barrister Ekeneme Ike as the Eze-elect of Ndikelionwu Community,
“On March 15, 2026, during a meeting involving the seven families that make up the royal family, Barrister Ekeneme Ike was duly chosen as the Eze-elect of Ndikelionwu Community.
Communique duly signed
“The communique and minutes of the meeting were duly signed by representatives of the seven families.
We wonder why the President-General of the town came up with another candidate against the people’s choice,” he queried.
Contributing, Chief of Obunagu Village, Ndikelionwu Town, Emmanuel Nwene, and Chairman of Izundu Age Grade, Ndikelionwu, Mr. Amaobi Okeke underscored the need for government urgent intervention in the matter to avert bloodshed and preventable chaos in the community.
“State government can organize an election for the two candidates and allow the people to choose under a free and fair atmosphere for truth, peace, justice, and fairness to prevail,” they advised.
Also speaking, Vice President of Ndikelionwu Youth Movement and Youth Chairman of Nwobinikpa Village, Ndikelionwu, Comrade Nonso Okoli-Ijoma, on behalf of the youths expressed dismay over the action of the President-General.
He said the move was destroying the peace and image of the community, insisting that imposition of an Eze on the people of Ndikelionwu would bring disunity and escalate the crisis.
He appealed that government should allow the will of the people to prevail.
Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area, Barrister Casmir Nwafor, advised both parties to sheathe their swords and embrace peace for progress and development in the area.
He assured that his administration would look into the matter, promising its quick resolution in the interest of the people.
“We will write to State Government based on reports we have received from both parties. Let’s maintain calmness in the meantime,” he added.
President-General of the community, Mr. Edozie Obasi who had attempted to present his own selected Eze-elect, Ven Rex Kanu during the protest declined speaking to the press.
