Unease In Ebonyi Community Over Akanu Ibiam's Daughter's Coronation

CALM is yet to return to Unwana community in Afikpo North Local Governmnt of Ebonyi State after some cultural groups, including Unwana Reformation Committee and Concerned Indigenes of Unwana Community, rose up to challenge the recent coronation of the daughter of the first governor of the defunct Eastern Region, Ezeogo Akanu Ibiam, Princess Alu Ibiam, as the community's traditional ruler.Princess Alu Ibiam was crowned 16 years ago as the regent of Unwana and she had functioned in that office creditably leading to her coronation after fulfilling the rules of the traditional rulership council, including standing for an election during which more than 200 titled men, youths and women endorsed her election.In a release signed by Omezue Inya Agha made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the cultural groups stated that some youths and elders of the community had earlier on June 15, 2012 coronated one Mr. Ikechukwu Njoku as the traditional ruler, adding that it was another group that crowned Princess Ibiam, which they stated caused tension and confusion in the community. Omezue Agha contended that Princess Alu Ibiam's election as the traditional ruler of Unwana should be discountenanced, saying that the matter has already been taken to court. The protesting groups said Princess Ibiam's coronation mocks Igbo tradition, is unconstitutional and lacks due process even as they urged the people to go about their normal businesses pending the determination of the matter by the court. However contrary to the protestations of the splinter groups, a prominent title holder in the community who declined to be mentioned in print, explained that the whole community decided to crown the regent as the substantive traditional ruler of the community based on her numerous contributions to the community, adding that her emergence would usher in peace, unity and greater socio-economic development. The elderly title holder noted that Princess Ibiam had in the past 16 years of her administration as the Regent of Unwana, stopped victimization, harassment and extortion in the community, adding that some harmful traditional practices being carried out in the community before her ascension, had been stopped.
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