Tradition
Chief Ifeoha Azikiwe Remains ‘Odogwu’ of Igbodo – Obi Osedume
As a matter of fact, I wish to state categorically, that Ifecha Donatus Azikiwe remains the Odogwu of Igbodo, a Central Chief, duly appointed by the entire people of Igbodo.
Igbodo Monarch, Barr. Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, in Ika North-East local government area of Delta State, has flayed media reports stating that the Odogwu of Igbodo, Chief Ifeoha Donatus Azikiwe has been stripped of the title and sacked from the Palace.
Recall that this medium had in an earlier report, published a resolution by Izu-Ogbe of Idumu-Ozei Quarter of Igbodo Kingdom, announcing the removal Chief Ifeoha Donatus Azikiwe as the Odogwu and representative of the village at in the Obi-in-Council over ‘established claims of betrayal’.
However, in response to the development, Obi Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, in a statement dismissed the decision of Idumu-Ozei Development Union against Chief Azikiwe, stressing that the action was “a brazen affront and disregard to my authority as the Obi of Igbodo and the entire people of Igbodo Kingdom.”
The statement personally signed by the Monarch on 6th September, and sent to ASABA METRO, is reproduced below.
PURPORTED REMOVAL OF CHIEF IFEOHA DONATUS AZIKIWE AS ODOGWU OF IGBODO
It has come to my knowledge that a group of persons have issued a press statement to the effectthat Chief Ifeoha Donatus Azikiwe has been removed as the Odogwu of Igbodo.
The statement, which is circulating among media houses and on-line reporters, is credited to a statement signed by one Uzoma Okechukwu and others, all of Idumuozei village, Igbodo.
The statement is not only false and malicious, but misleading and a serious embarrassment to the entire peace-loving people of Igbodo, and it is aimed at causing disaffection in my Kingdom.
As a matter of fact, I wish to state categorically, that Ifecha Donatus Azikiwe remains the Odogwu of Igbodo, a Central Chief, duly appointed by the entire people of Igbodo. He was duly installed by me, Barrister Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume I, Obi of Igbodo Kingdom. Till date, he has not been found wanting in the discharge of his responsibilities as the Odogwu of Igbodo Kingdom to warrant his removal.
It is worthy to mention here that Igbodo consists of six component villages, and Idumuozei, being only a part, cannot single-handedly remove a Central Chiefunder anycircumstances whatsoever, without the knowledge and input of the Obi and the entire Igbodo community.
The oath of allegiance taken by the six Central Chiefs is to defend the overall interest of Igbodo community and not to promote parochial and sectional interests.
The decision to rush to the press was only a calculated attempt to malign, embarrass and impugn the integrity of Chief Ifeoha Donatus Azikiwe, and by extension, the people of Igbodo. The fact that the statement was released to the press despite decisions reached at the meeting of Igbodo people on September 3, 2022 at my palace, is a brazen affront and disregard to my authority as the Obi of Igbodo and the entire people of Igbodo Kingdom. This is rather unfortunate, and has been noted accordingly.
For the sake of emphasis, Chief Ifeoha Donatus Azikiwe remains the Odogwu of lgbodo Kingdom and no amount of blackmail or mischief can change that fact.
HRM Barrister. Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume I, Obi of Igbodo Kingdom.
September 6, 2022.
