By Ifeizu Joe
Crisis is brewing in Ihite Community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the announcement of a date for the new yam festival of the community, despite a pending dispute over the throne.
Chief Timothy Okwudiri Ifurunwa had in January this year been installed as the traditional ruler of the community after he was issued a certificate of recognition by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Before his installation, members of Ihite Traditional Council, the body saddled with the job of selecting the king had frowned at the selection process, insisting that they were sidelined, and a fake council used to prosecute the job.
They challenged the selection in court, and secured a court order annulling and setting aside the coronation, until all matters pending in court about the selection were duly treated.
Last week, the Chief Sir Timothy Ifurunwa announced the Ihejioku Ihite 2026 festival, which is the new yam festival, stating the festival will hold on September 29, 2026. This has irked members of the sidelined traditional council who insists that with the throne still in dispute, the disputed monarch had no right to fix a date for the festival.
Speaking through their lawyer, N.I Onyeakpa (Esq), the council has petitioned the Anambra State Governor through the commissioner for Local Government, Town Union and Chieftaincy Affair, Barr Vin Ezeaka and the Commissioner of Police,Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, seeking a halt of the event to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The petition which was made available to our correspondent, including an invitation card to the proposed new yam festival and a court order by the State High Court, Umunze setting aside Ifurunwa’s coronation, called on the state government and the Anambra State Police command to save the community from impending crisis.
In the letter, Onyeakpa said: “It is our brief that our clients are members of Ihite Traditional Council, selected by various villages making up Ihite during the time of H.RH Igwe B.O. Ofu Eze Amama I of Ihite. Since his demise in 2020, our clients in compliance with subsisting Chieftaincy Constitution of Ihite continued performing traditional functions of the town, including announcing dates for the new yam festival.
“We’re unhappy that the President General of the community, Mr. George Madu and some cabals in the town unilaterally amended the Chieftaincy Constitution of the town, without due process and pronounced Mr. Timothy Okwudiri Ifurunwa as the Igwe elect of the town.
“The crux of this petition is to call your attention to the fact that the status of Igwe in Council of Ihite is a subject matter of litigation in Suit NO. HOS/47/2024, yet Okwudiri Ifurunwa is parading fake people as members of Ihite Traditional Council, performing the duty of our clients — who are the authentic members of the Ihite Traditional Council of the town, until contrary is proved.
“Furthermore, the action of Okwudiri Ifurunwa fixing 29 September, 2026 as date for Ihejioku and New Yam festival, when the subject matter and proper people to, perform the function is pending in court amount to disrespect, and such action is supposed to be condemned by your office.
“In the light of the above, we are aware that the matters of this nature are within the Jurisdiction of your office as Chief Security Officer of the State to call Ifurunwa to order to avoid breakdown of law and order. Sir, moreso we are calling on you to use your good office to condemn the action and direct Okwudiri Ifurunwa and his collaborators to respect the Rule of Law and stop further move on the proposed New Yam festival fixed on 29″ September 2026, until the decision of the High Court on that matter.”
The chairman of Ihite Traditional Council, Chief Sir Dominic Ahamkaoye and an illustrious son of the community, High Chief Sampson Ikechukwu Okoli who spoke to journalists in separate interviews wondered why Anambra State government can not tame Ifurunwa, who they said is currently taxing villages to sponsor the new yam festival, even when he remains an illegal monarch.
