The crisis rocking the ancient town of Obosi in Anambra state over the death of two Obosi youths during the 9th March general election and subsequent suspension of three Chiefs by traditional ruler of the town Igwe Chidubem Iweka II,the allegedly suspended chiefs are Chief Osita Chidoka, Chief Linus Mgbakaogu and chief Hyacinth Udemba,has been described as sham ,dictotarial and can not stand the test of time.
“ Even the Monarch lack power to do so without due consultation and fair hearing”,one of the high ranking Chiefs and member of Obosi Council of Chiefs said.
Igwe Iweka on Saturday announced the suspension of Chidoka, Chief Linus Mgbakaogu and Chief Hyacinth Udemba for their alleged involvement in bringing the corpse of two Obosi youths killed during the March 9 re-run election to the palace.
Their sack from the council, conveyed in a statement by one Dr. Benneth Mozie on behalf of the monarch and his chiefs-in-council, who was not member of the council, said the act was a sacrilege in the tradition of Obosi Kingdom which forbids the king and his council from seeing human corpse.
“This suspension is for their acts of sacrilege against the revered age-old customs of the people and Obosi ancient kingdom,” he said.
But some members of the title holders and ruling class or members of the Igwe’s cabinet (Ichie), said the suspension could not hold as there was never a meeting where the monarch and his cabinet deliberated on the issue of the two slain Obosi youths or made a resolution to suspend the three members.
According to Chief Anthony Nwabude, the Traditional Prime Minister of Obosi (Onowu Obosi), who immediately distance himself from kangaroo suspension of the prominent chiefs from Obosi council of chiefs ,the octogenarian expressed his displeasure towards the sole decision of the traditional ruler of the town without consultation with other chiefs or given fair hearing to the chiefs allegedly involved. Unfortunately Chief Nwabude was at the palace when the suspension was announced, told journalists that there was no time the content of the statement was discussed or resolved by the council. Thereefore such decision can not stand.
Chief Charles Umolu,Akpe Obosi equally describe the suspension as a sham.
“There was never a meeting where the cabinet met to discuss and come up with the resolution that was read.
“Since the killings, the cabinet has never met to discuss it; so, I am not in support of it,” he said.
Chief Charles Umolu (Akpe Obosi) described the suspension as a “sham.”
Umolu said he was surprised that the monarch could hurriedly suspend Chidoka, Mgbakaogu and Udemba, who actually calmed the irate youths who were grieving over the death of their brothers without condemning the killings.
He said that the statement read to the media was already prepared before the meeting and was signed by someone who was not a member of the council.
“The entire exercise is a sham; how can you suspend people without inviting them to give them fair hearing; many people were not invited, moreover, we are about 31 cabinet members and it is grossly inadequate for seven persons to take such decision for us.
“The press statement was prepared before the meeting, the person that signed and read it is an impostor because the Igwe cannot get members to sign it.
“However, the monarch cannot de-robe anybody; he lacks such powers because the traditional chiefs are representatives of their families,” he said.
When integrityreporters reached out to Osita Chidoka,(Ike Obosi) one time Minister of Transportation, who was regarded as the pride of the town,he said that he remains the “Ike Obosi” saying that the pronouncement can not hold water.He retaliate his resolve to continue contributing to the development of the ancient town to the best of his ability.
