Traditional Rulers Strip Otti Of Royal Blessings, Honour

By Nwamara Chekube – In an apparent twist of fate, the traditional rulers of Isiala Ngwa South Abia State have withdrawn their royal blessings, honour and support which they gave to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) guber candidate in the state, Dr. Alex Otti, mid last year.

They said that the royal blessings and support were made “out of deceit or in error”. The traditional rulers made the pronouncement and rectified the error at a civic reception organised by the people of Isiala Ngwa South L.G.A, on Friday, March 20, 2015 at Umueleghele Primary School field in honour of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) guber candidate in the state whom they described as a “true son of Ngwa land”.

Leading other traditional rulers, Eze Paul Okpanku, Chairman Isiala Ngwa South Traditional Council said that even though Dr. Otti sojourned in Nvosi community, Isiala Ngwa South, he (Dr. Otti) had long resettled in his traditional land Attani, Arochukwu L.G.A. in Abia North Senatorial zone of the State.

According to him, Dr. Otti’s recent secondary missionary journey to Nvosi community, Isiala Ngwa South was embeded in deceit and pretences as he hid under it to contest the governorship seat zoned to Abia South.

Consequently Eze Okpanku added “our stand is that Dr. Alex Otti is not and cannot be an acceptable substitute for a governor of Ukwa-Ngwa extraction being not himself an aboriginal Ngwa person”.

In his comment Eze Fyne Amamba of Umueleghele community while pouring libation stated “we the traditional rulers of Isiala Ngwa held as fraudulent the way and manner by which Dr. Alex Otti obtained our royal blessings and support last year in this very arena and, having realised the mistake we hereby withdraw and nullify it in line with our customs and traditions”.

He remarked that it was the responsibility of the traditional rulers to defend and protect the customs, traditional values and interest of the people.

While appreciating the leadership of the PDP for zoning the governorship seat to Abia South based on equity and justice, Eze Nwamara described the party’s flagbearer Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu as “the true son of Ngwa land in whom we are well pleased and worthy of our royal support and blessings”.

Earlier, the Chairman Central Planning Committee of the event, Chief Chinatu Njoku described Dr. Ikpeazu as home baked politician and true representative of the Ukwa-Ngwa political bloc.

It could be recalled that earlier this year, the traditional rulers of Nvosi community where Dr. Alex Otti resides had proclaimed him of not being an indigene of the area and as such “not acceptable to the people as a governorship candidate of Ngwa extraction”.