Two years after Eze Anozie’s demise, Oyo Igbo Community commences process of electing new excos
pannigeriannews
3 min read
Almost two years after the demise of Eze (Dr.) Alex C. Anozie, the Oyo Igbo community is yet to elect another Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State.
Late Anozie, who died in September, 2023, was elected as the first Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State in 1997, and occupied the throne for 26 years.
Although the late Ezendigbo was a charismatic leader, who earned recognition and respect for the throne, his reign was characterised with prolonged legal battles over the leadership of the Oyo Igbo community.
The legal tussle which started with Chief James Oramadike and later Chief Alloy Obi, ended in July, 2021, with the ruling by an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.
Justice O.M. Olagunju in his ruling affirmed Late Anozie as the authentic Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State; and also his group – the Oyo State chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo as the authentic leadership of Igbo community in the state.
The late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun acknowledged the good leadership qualities of Anozie in a congratulatory letter written to the late Ezendigbo on the occasion of his 26 years on the throne.
In the lated dated 9th of August, 2023, and titled “Royal Blessing on Your 26 Years of Exemplary Leadership”, Oba Balogun wrote: “It is an undisputed fact that you have weathered a lot of storms in the course of your leadership role and by the dint of painstakingness, peaceful approach to issues and abiding faith in the rule of law, you have triumphed and by the grace of God and the support of your people, you are today the authentic and undisputed Eze ndigbo of both Ibadanland and Oyo State”.
Owing to the prolonged legal battle and recognition Anozie’s charismatic leadership brought to the throne, many had expected that another Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State would emerge within few months after late Eze’s demise.
It is therefore, surprising that twenty months after, the Igbo community in Oyo State is yet to get another Ezendigbo.
Sources informed that this might not be unconnected with with the emergence of a splinter group within the Oyo State chapter of the Ohaneze Ndigbo in December.
Leader of the splinter group, Mr. Okechukwu Nwabunike Umeh in his acceptance speech had appealed to all Igbos in Oyo state to put aside their differences and embrace peace and love..
But Chief Ndidi Izeakor, President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Oyo State chapter, that worked with Late Anozie, told our Reporter that the delay has nothing to do with the emergence of the splinter group.
Chief Ezeakor informed that the process of electing another Ezendigbo had already been kick-started.
His words: “We are just taking our time to follow due process. We want to do it in such a way that there would be no loophole by consulting all the town unions. This is because, we don’t want any issue to emanate from the process.
“We have started selling nomination forms We are taking our time to visit all the town unions. Thay are the ones to recommend candidates. Anybody who feels that he is capable to occupy the throne should obtain form and come for interview.”
Similarly, the Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oyo State and Eze In Council of Ezendigbo in Ibadan and Oyo State, High Chief Godwin Ngwu, declared that a new Ezendigbo would emerge before the end of this year.
Chief Ngwu, who is also the Odozi Obodo Ndigbo in Ibadan and Oyo state, revealed that all the town unions that made up the Oyo Igbo community are being carried along in the process of electing a new Ezendigbo.
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