By Chinenyeh Ozor, Nsukka

Tension is presently mounting in Ihe/Owerre autonomous community of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State after a contestant to the disputed traditional stool of the community, Ozioko George Asadu, allegedly declared himself as monarch-elect.

The action has prompted a reaction from some members of the community who have   through their solicitor, Mr. H.O Eya, petitioned the Enugu State Commissioner of Police to stop Chief Asadu from parading himself as the traditional ruler- elect of the community.

The group said that the traditional stool became vacant following the death of the traditional ruler of the community, the late Igwe John Attama, adding that two persons, which include Mike Omeje and Chief Asadu, showed interest in occupying the prestigious royal throne.

The contentious traditional institution has allegedly split the community into two, thus eroding the peace of the area.

The petition also claimed that so far, none of the two persons who have shown interest to occupy the stool has been selected as the process of selection was yet to be concluded. The group, represented in the petition by Sunday Amoke, Dan, Ugwoke, Apollos Sunday Omeje, Raphael Omeje, Patrick Agbo,

Sir Onogwu, Ben Ezugwu, Paul Ngwu, Anthony Ugwuanyi, William Ishiwu and Ezekiel Tabugbo Eze, had in the petition alleged that Ozioko Asadu has run foul of the law by allowing himself to be addressed and portrayed as the traditional ruler of Ihe/Owerre autonomous community.

They cited a video clip of the most recent “Omabe” masquerade festival where he(Chief Asadu) pronounced himself as the traditional ruler of the autonomous community.

While denouncing the utterances and alleged pronouncement of the said Chief Asadu, the group had during a protest it staged in this regard appealed for calm in the face of the looming crisis, saying that the action of “the self-styled monarch” has ruffled the peaceful mood of the people who are now forced to show divided loyalty to the two contestants.

However, section 19 of the traditional rulers law, cap 151 laws of Enugu State 2004 provides as follows: “Whether or not there is a recognised chief in a town or community, a person not being a recognised chief who holds himself out or allows himself to be portrayed or allows himself to be addressed as a recognised chief of the town or community is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to imprisonment for two years without option of fine”.

The law further interprets chief and traditional ruler as any person recognised or selected and appointed by the town or community as the traditional ruler and recognised as such by the governor in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Pastor Emeka Abugu, allegedly stated that Ihe/Owerre autonomous community has no traditional monarch-elect till an election to that effect was conducted.

The commissioner had earlier warned the contestants of the coveted position not to jump the gun or allow themselves to be addressed as the traditional ruler-elect of the community till the process was concluded.

The Nigeria Police Area Command Nsukka while brokering peace in the community made two attempts on May 25, 2014 and June 30, 2014 to charge the matter to court but this was scuttled for unknown reason.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abubakar, has waded into the matter with the aim of brokering an everlasting peace in the community.