Despite the fact that Anambra state government had already recognized a member of the royal family, Dr Michael Idigo, as a successor to the late mornarch, His Royal Highness, Eze Gabriel Chuka Idigo V, (Ogalagidi-Ezedioramma),as the Igwe of the ancient kingdom of Aguleri ,and presented him with a certificate of office, another member of the royal family, Chief Chuka Idigo, has been crowned as the successor to the King.
The installation of Dr. Micheal Idigo has the backing of the state government while the Chuka seems to have the support of the community.
At the demise of His Royal Highness, Eze Gabriel Chuka Idigo V, (Ogalagidi-Ezedioramma), the Igwe of the ancient kingdom of Aguleri the people of ancient kingdom wished that the best honour to bequeath their departed king was to have a peaceful selection of the next King but that never happened, rather the people now have two persons fiercely contesting for the throne.
Thus the 140-year-old kingdom is now faced with crisis of contending with two monarchs.
According to Nnaemeka Udeoba, the process of selecting who becomes the traditional ruler of the Aguleri is purely vested in Idigo’s family and not the governor or any other person outside the ruling family cycle.
The appointment of the traditional ruler of Aguleri is purely a traditional affairs of Idigo family
South East Trust investigation revealed that according to the tradition of Aguleri, a new Igwe is coronated immediately the late Igwe’s body is buried.
A source at the palace described Aguleri kingship as peculiar because it is only the Idigo family that selects a King from members and presents to the elders and the community.
The source also said that even the Igwe-in-council does not have the right or any role to play in the selection process of the Igwe.
The source also agreed that the selection of Igwe of Aguleri is purely the Idigo’s family affair.
Since, the alleged imposition of the traditional ruler on the people of Aguleri, peace appeared to have departed from the community, and this has brought about the presence of heavy security men.
The Anambra governor, an indigene of Aguleri had on March 29, 2019 installed Dr. Micheal Idigo as the traditional ruler of kingdom, while members of Idigo dynasty installed Mr. Chuka Idigo on April 26, 2019 as their new king.
The government warned Chuka to stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of Aguleri or it would invoke the necessary laws “to deal ruthlessly with him’’.
The government described Chuka as a pretender to the throne and was denigrating the highly revered stool of the kingdom by parading himself as Igwe when there is one already.
According to the government, it will do everything possible to protect the dignity of the royal institution and those who occupy it as it has existed for hundreds of years serving the needs of the people.
Goverment said following the passage of Ogalagidi Christopher Nwabunwanne Idigo, the kingmakers and people of the Ancient Kingdom of Aguleri nominated Dr Michael Idigo as their next Igwe, and he took the name of Ezeudo and was crowned according to tradition of Aguleri kingdom.
However, the Idigo family said the government’s action was mischievous and aimed at insulting the community and the people.
They insisted that the choice of Prince Gabriel Chuka Idigo as the Igwe-elect was duly communicated to elders and stakeholders in Aguleri, as well as the governor in January 2019.
The argued that the government endorsed the choice during a private visit to the Governor’s Lodge by a delegation of the Idigo Elders Council with the said Prince Chuka Idigo in attendance.
The alleged that things changed on March 24, 2019, less than five days to the scheduled coronation of Prince Chuka Idigo, at a hurriedly-packaged meeting of Iruokechi kindred surreptitiously convened by Chief Mike Ejoh, an appointee of the state government.
They alleged that the meeting started at 9am when Sunday masses were ongoing, and with less than 13 members present.
The Idigo dynasty urged the Govenor to stop meddling in the culture and tradition of Aguleri kingdom.