By Chris O. Nwedo
“Those scheming to subvert fairness should remember that power is transient, but legacy endures. History records both the righteous and the reckless, and each must someday answer for their choices”.- Nwedo C.
In the heart of Anambra State lies Nteje, a historic town that once stood as a model of unity, hospitality, and communal wisdom. Today, that same Nteje is bleeding from within, torn apart by ambition, greed, and an organized defiance of tradition. What began as a noble succession process after the passing of a respected monarch, HRH Igwe Roland Odegbo (Abogu II), has deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, exposing not just the fragility of peace in Nteje but also the failure of governance and justice in addressing the rot festering at the grassroots.
The tragedy unfolding in Nteje is not merely about who becomes the next Igwe. It is a deeper struggle between the wrong and the strong, between those who manipulate institutions for personal gain and those who insist that truth and fairness must prevail. It is a contest over identity, history, and the very soul of a people whose cherished values are being trampled by power and impunity.
By the Nteje constitution, a community document that has guided its governance and cultural leadership for decades, the Igweship stool is strictly rotational among the three major quarters: Ezi, Ikenga, and Ifite.
Ezi Nteje produced HRH Igwe Nnamaka (Abogu I). Ikenga Nteje produced HRH Igwe Roland Odegbo (Abogu II).
By all principles of fairness, the next Igwe, (Abogu III) should come from Ifite Nteje. This is not a matter of sentiment or politics; it is a question of law, order, and moral consistency.
The late Igwe Odegbo’s reign was a testament to the recognition of this rotational principle. His rule was legitimized by the government of Anambra State, and his service was acknowledged by successive governors ( Peter Obi, Willie Obiano, and Charles Soludo) all of whom attended to him officially as the legitimate monarch of Nteje. He was also buried with full state and traditional honours as Abogu II, confirming that the rotation had indeed reached and concluded with Ikenga. However, instead of allowing this process to continue smoothly, certain influential elements have conspired to hijack the process, seeking to impose another Igwe from Ikenga again, in violation of Nteje’s constitution and adopted tradition. Their motives are transparent: to perpetuate control over land, power, and privileges that come with the royal stool.
HE Willy Obiano paying last visit to HRH Igwe Late Roland Odegbo, Aborgu II
This manipulation is made possible by the complicity of political actors and vested interests who see Nteje not as a community to nurture but as a commodity to control. What should be a celebration of cultural continuity has become a tragedy of deceit and confrontation. The situation reached a breaking point when the Ifite community, having legitimately selected High Chief Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo as Igwe-elect (Abogu III), saw his name blocked from submission to the state government, not because of any procedural irregularity, but because the wrong and strong refused to yield power. This was an act of political sabotage, not communal consensus.
Running parallel to this crisis is the long, bloody dispute over land in Ifite. Over the years, vast tracts of communal land have been sold off illegally by a small cartel of insiders, some masquerading as custodians of community interest. The proceeds of these fraudulent transactions have enriched a few and impoverished the many, setting off cycles of revenge, vendetta, and lawlessness.
From 2017 to date, Ifite has endured waves of violence (shootings, arson, and killings) much of it instigated by youth militias armed by powerful backers. The land question is at the heart of it all. Chief Francis Udechukwu Nwaforji, a respected Ifite stakeholder, recently described it aptly: “Our land, a divine blessing, has become our curse because of greed. Some individuals now act as if they own Ifite, auctioning the land at will. Anyone who objects is attacked or ostracized.”
Indeed, the pattern of lawlessness surrounding land deals has become so entrenched that some residents fear their community has been captured, not by outsiders, but by their own sons turned predators. These same forces are behind the current bid to override Ifite in the Igweship contest. They know that a legitimate and independent Igwe from Ifite would challenge their illegal acquisitions and restore accountability. Thus, the battle for the throne is, in reality, a battle for control of money from the illegal land sales.
Despite intimidation, voices of truth continue to speak. Barrister Nwoye, one of the aspirants to the stool, made a passionate appeal during a peace meeting attended by the Anambra Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Collins Nwabunwanne. He reminded the gathering that Nteje’s Igweship is “strictly rotational,” and that it is a provocative impunity for anyone to deny Ifite its rightful turn.
He warned: “Whoever wants to stop a fight must not be seen sharpening knives. Peace cannot come through deception. The truth remains that Ikenga has had its turn. This is the belief of every right-thinking Nteje person.” Similarly, respected elders like Michael Chike Uyalor from Ezi Nteje reaffirmed that rotational equity is enshrined in the community’s constitution. “Ezi has taken their turn. Ikenga has taken theirs. It is now the turn of Ifite,” he said firmly.
Their positions align perfectly with the facts of history and the spirit of justice. Even Dr. Emma Ezelagbo, has argued that the three successive Anambra governors who recognized Igwe Odegbo (from Ikenga) validated the rotation principle in law and tradition. To disrupt it now would be to desecrate the very foundation of Nteje’s governance.
HE Willy Obiano, the former Anambra state governor signing condolence register
What makes the situation tragic is not merely the power struggle itself but the moral collapse that sustains it. In Nteje today, sacred values are being traded for short-term gain. Land, once the symbol of ancestry and identity, has become a market commodity. Young men who should be building the future are being armed to destroy it. Shrines have multiplied. Fetishism is on the rise. As Chief Udechukwu lamented, “Dibia has become the profession of choice.” The soul of the community is under siege, and those who should defend it (elders, leaders, and public officials) have either been compromised or cowed into silence.
Meanwhile, Nteje, despite being the headquarters of a local government, remains without infrastructure or meaningful development. Roads are dilapidated. Schools and healthcare facilities are in decay. Political representation is almost non-existent. A town that once prided itself on intellect and enterprise has become a cautionary tale of self-inflicted decline.
It is important to remind those working, deliberately or otherwise, to implode Nteje that no one gains from a disastrous outcome. Those who insist on denying Ifite their constitutional right should understand that Ifite’s people have no intention of surrendering their just demand. They are resolute, and their cause is anchored in fairness. A peace built on injustice is no peace at all.
When justice prevails, it is a gain for all. When every quarter enjoys equity, Nteje wins. Those scheming to subvert fairness should remember that power is transient, but legacy endures. History records both the righteous and the reckless, and each must someday answer for their choices.
It is worth recalling that when it was the turn of Ikenga, Ifite could have easily challenged and obstructed the process. Yet, out of respect for Nteje’s constitution and the spirit of fairness, Ifite stepped aside and allowed the late HRH Igwe Roland Odegbo to ascend the throne as Abogu II. That act of goodwill remains a moral reference point in our collective conscience.
Now, with Igwe Odegbo gone, the circle of rotation has completed its course through Ikenga. By every law of justice and tradition, the next Igwe,(Abogu III) deserves come from Ifite. To deny this is to shred the very fabric that holds Nteje together. And if Ifite were to abdicate its rightful turn today, would it then claim the next turn belonging to Ezi Nteje? Such a distortion would not only mock Nteje’s constitution but also sow seeds of endless instability. Nteje must therefore choose between justice and chaos. Only one of these paths leads to peace
The crisis in Nteje presents a test of leadership not only for the community but also for Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his administration. The Governor, who has repeatedly emphasized the rule of law, community harmony, and grassroots development, cannot afford to allow injustice to fester under his watch.
Soludo’s government has both the moral and constitutional responsibility to uphold the rotational provision in Nteje’s constitution and to legitimize the rightful Igwe-elect of Ifite, High Chief Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo (Abogu III). This is not about partisanship or political favour. It is about respect for law, fairness, and peace.
The Governor should order a transparent review of the Nteje crisis — involving the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the security agencies, and the Ojiana Nteje. The findings must be made public, and those responsible for illegal land sales, violence, and disruption of due process should face the full weight of the law.
To rebuild peace and restore dignity in Nteje, three urgent steps are needed:
- 1. Recognition of Legitimacy and Justice: The government must immediately recognize the rotational structure and legitimize the Igwe-elect from Ifite, thereby ending the dangerous vacuum that invites manipulation and violence.
- 2. Land Reclamation and Reform: A special task force should audit all land transactions in Nteje since 2010, recover illegally acquired lands, and enforce communal ownership laws. This will stop the bleeding and reassert the sanctity of community heritage.
- 3. Community Reconciliation and Moral Renewal: The town needs a peace and values restoration program (driven by its churches, elders, youth associations, and women’s groups) to rebuild trust, re-educate the youth, and reduce the rising culture of fetishism and violence.
Nteje’s crisis is not just a local affair; it is a reflection of a wider Nigerian tragedy, where power routinely overrules justice, and greed drowns out truth. Yet, the solution lies within the people themselves: in their ability to remember who they are, to honour their own constitution, and to reject manipulation from the “wrong and strong.”
As I reflect on the suffering, bloodshed, and moral decay that now define the once-proud town of Nteje, I return to a simple truth: no community ever prospers when injustice becomes culture. Ifite’s right to the Igweship should not be negotiable, it is the moral and legal continuation of Nteje’s history. The sooner the people and the government recognize this, the faster Nteje can heal.
Governor Soludo must act. Not tomorrow, not next year — now.
Only justice can rebuild Nteje. Only truth can restore peace. And only unity can save the soul of Nteje