There was a mild drama on Saturday between the Igbo Community Association and the police in Plateau State as Ndigbo crowned Prof. Joseph Obilom as the Eze Igbo 11 of Jos.
The
police had on Friday advised the community against the installation,
claiming the Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ayeni, received a letter
from Gbong Gwom Jos, Gyang Buba, that the event should not hold.
The
state governor, Jonah Jang, was also said to have instructed the
Commander of the Task Force, Maj. Gen. Henry Ayoola, to dismantle all
the security apparatus he had initially put up for the ceremony.
As
early as 7.30 on Saturday, a detachment of policemen had cordoned off
the Rwang Pam Stadium, venue of the event awaiting some Igbo leaders who
had vowed to go on with the ceremony.
However,
as the police waited for them at the stadium, little did they know that
Obilom had been crowned the previous night at Crest Hotel and Gardens.
So
it was only the bewildered men of the force, who were at the stadium as
no member of the community came near the venue on Saturday.
Among
those who witnessed the event our correspondent gathered were a former
Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, leader of the
Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike,
Chief Nduka Eya, notable comedian, Chief Chika Okpala and Ezeigbo of
Abuja, Eze Ibe Nwosu, who led a delegation of Igbo traditional rulers
from across the country.
Meanwhile,
after his coronation, Obilom said his choice was that of the people and
nobody had the right to deny Ndigbo the leader of their choice.
