There is tension in Owerri following the rejection of Peter Njemanze as traditional ruler of Amawom community in Owerri Municipal.
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The Imo State Government had last week issued a staff of office and certificate of recognition to Peter Njemanze as traditional ruler of the area.
The Njemanze family had produced the paramount ruler of Owerri. The last been Late Emmanuel Njemanze who was known and addressed as Ozuruigbo V.
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Since his demise, the Imo State Government granted autonomy status to the five communities that make up Owerri and appointed traditional rulers for them.
The Njemanze’s went to Court to challenge the action.
Rejecting the action o the State Government, the family issued a statement published by an Oweri based newspaper, Imo Trumpeta.
In the letter, they described the statement from the Imo State Government that a new monarch has been crowned in Owerri as a rumour.
In a letter by the Eke Na Okorie Traditional Council of Owerre Nchi-ise, the Njemanze Royal family denied “one Peter E Njemanze” from Njemanze dynasty as their Traditional Ruler.
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“The attention of the Eke Na Okorie Traditional Council of Owerre Nchi-ise has been drawn to the rumour or fake News making rounds in Owerri Autonomous Community of Owerri Municipal Local Government Area, Imo State, that a certain person or persons including one Peter E Njemanze from Njemanze Royal family of Owerri have been presented by some miscreants in the family to Imo State Government and consequently one of them recognized as the Eze of Amawom Autonomous Community.
The family maintained that it is only the Traditional Custodians and Kingmakers of the Owerri Royal family stool that has the right to pick its new King.
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It made it clear that there is nothing like “Amawom Autonomous community stool, stating that what they have is Owerri community.
The statement reminded the Imo State Government that there is an existing litigation in court over the Owerri Tradition Ruler stool with suit number HOW/65/2016. Chief TOS Oparaugo and Others Vs the Governor of Imo State and Others.
“The Eke Na Okorie Traditional Council is an adherent to the rule of law and expects the Government to do so in all its dealings with Owerri people” the statement stated.
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