The police have urged the people of Uzoakwa Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State to maintain law and order ahead of the chieftaincy title election for the community.
There had been tension in the town over the forthcoming election of the next holder of a chieftaincy title, Ezeala Dike of Umudike.
Supporters of the four contenders for the title are said to have been at loggerheads over the matter.
Our correspondent gathered that preparations had been concluded to pick one of the four contestants, namely, Uchenna Nsofor, Chuma Nzeribe, Chuka Amangbo and Eugene Izuora, as the new Ezeala Dike of Umudike.
But the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ihiala, Mr. Chris Aimionowane, warned the people not to see the election of the next occupant of the chieftaincy title as a do-or-die affair.
Aimionowane sounded the note of warning at the palace of the monarch of the town, Oluoha Cosmas Okechukwu, in Ihiala.
He gave the warning shortly after the monarch advised the contenders to go home and follow the normal process in the selection of the Ezeala Dike of Umudike.
According to the DPO, “We will not hesitate to arrest the offender and make him face the wrath of the law”.
Earlier, one of the contenders, Nsofor, expressed dissatisfaction with the current tense situation, alleging that some persons planned to hijack the office.
He said, “Some desperate people want to hijack the post but it is not done that way. “There is an ulterior motive behind the action of my closest rival. I feel, kind of, disturbed until it is finalised and I emerge victorious.
“The picking of Ezeala of Umudike comes naturally right from time immemorial; it is not contested for because the oldest ozor title holder takes it. We don’t fight or struggle for it”.
