2015 Election: Anambra Speaker, Father At War Over Chieftaincy Title

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Politics Sunday, July 27th, 2014

Ignatius Okpara, Awka

The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinwe Nwaebili, has allegedly declared a war with her father, Igwe P.C.U. Afebero, the traditional ruler of Ogbakuba community in Ogbaru council area of Anambra state over plans by the monarch to confer chieftaincy title on the member representing Ogbaru federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Victor Afam Ogene.

African Examiner gathered that the Speaker is completely against her father’s decision to honour the lower chamber of the National Assembly NASS member with a chieftaincy title in recognition of his “quality representation” and numerous youths and human empowerment programmes in his constituency.

The Royal father, who has been a close associate of Ogene, for a long time, had decided to honour him with a chieftaincy title last Saturday but his daughter, and Anambra Speaker, who is said to be nursing the ambition of wrestling power from the Federal lawmaker in 2015, was said to be infuriated by her father’s open support for the NASS member.

Our correspondent learnt that the Speaker was particularly annoyed with her father because if he confers the chieftaincy title on Ogene, people of the constituency will interpret the gesture to mean that her monarch, had endorsed Ogene’s re-election ambition as against her own daughter’s interest in the forthcoming general election.

However, Ogene, who is the Deputy House Committee Chairman, on Media and Public Affairs, has already asked the Monarch to shelve the chieftaincy award so that he would not be seen to be a source of discord between a father and his daughter.

To this end, the lawmaker, via a statement issued Saturday by his Media Assistance, Edward Dibiana, had announced his withdrawal from the controversial chieftaincy title.

The statement read thus: “the chieftaincy title conferment on me by His Royal Highness, Igwe P.C.U Afubero, Eze Izagbo II of Ogbakuba, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State, billed for Saturday, July 26, 2014, at Ogbakuba is being shelved, to avoid the intense politicisation and attempts to breach public peace, using the occasion as excuse.”

Despite the cancellation of the award, Ogene, expressed appreciation to the Royal father, and people of Ogbakuba community for finding him worthy of the honour, assuring that he will continue to do his best in the area of human empowerment, especially among youths of his constituency.