Ifeoha Azikiwe Dethronment: Idumu-Ozei Village, Igbodo Severs Ties With Monarch

The leadership body of Idumu-Ozei village, Idumu-Ozei Development Union in Igbodo kingdom, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, has servered relationship with their traditional ruler, HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1 and placed a fine of at least five (5) live goats and five (5) cartons of beer on any defaulter who breaches the decision.

The announcement which was contained in a communique issued by the leadership of Idumu-Ozei Development Union, cited the failure of the monarch in respecting the ratified decision of the village with regards to the dethronement of one Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwefailure of the monarch in respecting the ratified decision of the village with regards to the dethronement of one Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe and his subsequent derogatory remarks on Idumu-Ozei people.

The Communique signed by the President-General, Pastor Uzoma Okechukwu; General Secretary, Uzor Iduh and Ogene of Idumu-Ozei, Diokpa Emmanuel Obioji Chiemeke, the Izu-Ogbe of Idumu-Ozei People maintained that, “the decisions made at the Izu-Ogbe of Idumu-Ozei People held on 7th September, 2022 are ractified to wit, that the dethronement of Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe by the good People of Idumu-Ozei,the dethronement of Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe by the good People of Idumu-Ozei, which is in consonance with the Constitution of Igbodo, is sacrosanct and not negotiable”.

Adding that, “in the process of disciplining their son and hitherto their representative in the Obi-in-Council (Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe), the good People Idumu-Ozei formally notified HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, by two separate letters, the receipt of which he duly acknowledged. HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, did not respond to the letters and did not intervene, but chose to, at the end of the disciplinary process, prejudicially disparage the good People of Idumu-Ozei.”

Consequent on the above, “that since HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, has chosen the dethroned Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe in preference to all the other People of Idumu-Ozei and for his derogatory remarks on all sons and daughters of Idumu-Ozei, the good People Idumu-Ozei have further resolved to forthwith severe their relationship with the Obi, HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1. In other words, every son and daughter of Idumu-Ozei is directed to cease from attending any meetings with HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, visit the Obi’s Palace and in any manner whatsoever, deal with the Obi, HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, or the Palace for any reason whatsoever…”

Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe

The resolutions contained in the communique as obtained by this medium, is reproduced below.

COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF IDUMU-OZEI DEVELOPMENT UNION

EMERGENCY CONFERENCE HELD ON 2ND OCTOBER 2022

The good People of Idumu-Ozei held an emergency Conference of the People of Idumu-Ozei village on 2nd October 2022 (“The Conference”). The Conference was well attended, which for the first time included representatives of the women of the village. The following resolutions were made at the Conference:

1. That the decisions made at the Izu-Ogbe of Idumu-Ozei People held on 7th September, 2022 are ratified to wit, that the dethronement of Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe by the good People of Idumu-Ozei, which is in consonance with the Constitution of Igbodo, is sacrosanct and not negotiable.

2. That in line with the Constitution that united the six villages that make up Igbodo and brought in HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1 to office, Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe has ceased to be the Odogwu of Igbodo and IdumuOzei’s representative in the Obi-in-Council since 2nd July 2022.

3. That whosoever that disagrees with the dethronement of Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe as the Odogwu of Igbodo and representative of Idumu-Ozei in the Obi-in-Council, should challenge it in a court of competent jurisdiction.

4. That the good People of Idumu-Ozei are miffed by the declaration of HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, in his Press Release of 6th September 2022 that he alone and not Idumu-Ozei People has the power to dethrone Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe. This assertion which strongly contradicts the laws that united the six villages that make up Igbodo and established the six traditional (Central) Chiefs and Representatives in the Obi-in-Council in Igbodo, is highly unfortunate.

5. That the good People of Idumu-Ozei respectfully advise HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, to urgently acquaint himself with the Constitution that united the six (6) villages that make up Igbodo and brought him into office, in order to avert crises and unpleasant legal judgements.

6. That any decision taken in any meeting where Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe portrays himself as the Odogwu of Igbodo and Idumu-Ozei’s representative in the Obi-in-Council from 2nd July 2022, is illegal, null and void and not binding on the good People of Idumu-Ozei.

7. That the good People of Idumu-Ozei noted that in HRH’s Press Release of 6th September 2022, HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1 highly insulted, despised and embarrassed the entire good People of Idumu-Ozei, when he described their Leadership, in derogatory words as “one Uzoma Okechukwu” in apparent reference to Idumu-Ozei’s President General, “others” in apparent reference to Idumu-Ozei’s General Secretary and their revered Ogene (Diokpa Emmanuel Obioji Chiemeke).

8. That by HRH’s (Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1) derogatory remarks on the Leadership of Idumu-Ozei and by extension on the entire good People of Idumu-Ozei, and his statement on his Press Release, he has demonstrated that besides the dethroned Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe, every other Son and Daughter of Idumu-Ozei, including our revered Ogene (Diokpa Emmanuel Obioji Chiemeke), is insignificant to his administration of Igbodo.

9. That in the process of disciplining their son and hitherto their representative in the Obi-in-Council (Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe), the good People Idumu-Ozei formally notified HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, by two separate letters, the receipt of which he duly acknowledged. HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, did not respond to the letters and did not intervene, but chose to, at the end of the disciplinary process, prejudicially disparage the good People of Idumu-Ozei.

10. That since HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, has chosen the dethroned Donatus Ifeoha Azikiwe in preference to all the other People of Idumu-Ozei and for his derogatory remarks on all sons and daughters of Idumu-Ozei, the good People Idumu-Ozei have further resolved to forthwith severe their relationship with the Obi, HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1. In other words, every son and daughter of Idumu-Ozei is directed to cease from attending any meetings with HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, visit the Obi’s Palace and in any manner whatsoever, deal with the Obi, HRH Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume 1, or the Palace for any reason whatsoever. A fine of at least five (5) live goats and five (5) cartons of beer await any defaulter for every breach of this directive.