Dr Forster Ihejofor is our Choice as Igwe —Ogbunka Community begs Governor Obiano

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

Ogbunka Community yesterday appealed to the Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano not to issue a certificate of recognition to anyone, but Dr Forster Ezenwa Ihejiofor as their nominated and elected Igwe of Ogbunka kingdom. 

The President General Ogbunka Development Union (ODU), Chief Emmanuel Okoro

and over 233 illustrious citizens of Ogbunka Community signed up the 13 points letter of appeal to Governor Willie Obiano.

The appeal letter entitled, OGBUNKA IGWESHIP STOOL: A LETTER OF APPEAL FROM OGBUNKA COMMUNITY TO HIS EXCELLENCY,  CHIEF DR. WILLIE MMADUABUROCHUKWU OBIANO  (AKPOKUEDIKE GLOBAL), THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, ANAMBRA STATE" reads in part: 

"The good people of Ogbunka community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra  state hereby use this medium to wish His Excellency,  the  Executive Governor  of Anambra  state a merry Christmas  and prosperous new year.

"We wish to inform His Excellency that  Ogbunka people are peace loving and  will not for whatever  reason like  to be plunged into crises under any guise.

"We wish to state that Ogbunka community during an extraordinary emergency meeting of Ogbunka indigenes held on 4th December, 2020 at Obi Ikedi, Isiokpu village, Ogbunka nominated and elected Dr. Forster Ezenwa Ihejiofor (Ohazurume), Nka 1 of Ogbunka kingdom as our Igwe-elect.  

"As a peaceful community, we wish to plead to His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano not to issue  certificate of  recognition to any person who parades himself as the traditional ruler of Ogbunka community.

"Ogbunka as a community deserves the right to choose who becomes their traditional ruler, hence their choice of Dr. Forster Ezenwa Ihejiofor as our Igwe elect.

"For the records,  Dr. Forster Ezenwa Ihejiofor was duly nominated and elected on the 4th day of December, 2020 and was crowned on the 5th December, 2020 after his co-nominee, Prof. Promise Nwachukwu  Okpala voluntarily stepped down for him.

"The election of Dr. Forster  Ezenwa Ihejiofor as Igwe-elect was in line with the Ogbunka Chieftaincy constitution (1985) and in reverence to our native laws and customs.

"As we stated earlier, Ogbunka community, hitherto, prides itself as a peaceful  community that loves each other  and we  will  want his  Excellency, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to help us  sustain this peaceful coexistence.

 "This appeal is necessary given the fact that the said somebody has been going about boasting that His Excellency has already  written his certificate of recognition waiting to be issued.

"The person is also boasting that the Catholic  and Anglican churches are pushing his course.

"It is worthy of note that Ogbunka has been existing harmoniously irrespective of religious affiliation and the issue of who becomes the traditional ruler should not be different from the way we have been  doing our things as brothers.

 "However, If anybody is in doubt of our collective resolve in choosing Dr. Forster  Ezenwa Ihejiofor as our Igwe-elect, Your Excellency can send some  government observers for conduct of fresh  election into the Igweship stool of Ogbunka community using option  A-4 as the repeat of such exercise will help to determine the popular candidate among the aspirants.

"Once again, we thank His Excellency for his ingenuity and prowess in the administration of justice  in the state, hoping that Ogbunka will get her own justice".