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Onitsha Traditional Institution Crisis Deepens
From Charles Onyekamuo in Awka, 11.29.2004
Crisis rocking Onitsha traditional institution since the death of its Monarch, Igwe Ofala Okechukwu Okagbue, Obi of Onitsha, three years ago, has deepened with the town's regent, Chief Olisa Mortune, the Onowu of Onitsha installing a new Ajie to replace the late former administrator of East Central State, Mr Ukpabi Asika, who was buried penultimate week in Onitsha. Asika, was the Ajie of Onitsha, the third in the hierachy of titled men in the highly stratified Onitsha society. Ordinarily, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, whose stool has become a subject of three litigations since he mounted the throne in 2001, would have performed the installation of the new Ajie. But the traditional Prime Minister or Onowu as he is known in the Onitsha traditional circles, Mortune said he assumed the mantle of leadership of Onitsha, as the regent and acting Obi of Onitsha in accordance with customs. This custom, he said, was given judicial bite by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction in a case which arose upon the demise of Chief F.J.I. Emengo, the "Onya Ozoma" of Onitsha, even as he described the reigning monarch, Achebe, as an impostor. The new Ajie Ukadiugwu of Onitsha, Chief Gabriel Emodi, was a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps. The ceremony began at the "Ime Obi", (compound of the Onowu) in Onitsha, with the transfer of what is known as "Egwu Ota", which was preceeded by the slaughtering of a goat, pouring of libations and traditional prayers. A hand of the goat was given to the new b title holder, together with the placement of the red cap on his head by the Onowu, while a goat skin bag, with a bell strapped to it, as well as other paraphenelia of the office of the Ajie,were given to him. Mortune said he performed the function in his capacity as the Onowu and regent of Onitsha, since according to him, Onitsha has no traditional ruler yet, adding that the coronation of Achebe after the funeral rites of Igwe Ofala Okechukwu Okagbue was not acceptable to Onitsha people, as the coronation was a ruse and violated Onitsha customs and tradition.
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