…Rejects Fubara’s Choice
By ERIC MOORE
TENSION is high in Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, following the recognition and presentation of Staff of Office to His Royal Majestic, Ndamzi Nsirim, as the new Nye Nwe Eli of the Kingdom, by the State Government.
The people of Rumueme Kingdom have rejected the choice of the state Government.
Apart from the rejection from the kingdom, the younger brother of HRM Ndamzi Nsirim, Andrew Nsirim has alleged that the newly recognised Nye Nwe Eli of Rumueme Kingdom is not the biological son of his late father His Royal Majestic Omunakwe Nsirim popularly known as OCC.
Andrew Nsirim who made the disclosure on Wednesday after HRM Ndamzi Nsirim was recognized and given Staff of Office by the State Government said his father late Omunakwe Nsirim told him that Ndamzi is not his biological son which he also confronted him with.
He vowed to go to court to proof the paternity because he had pleaded with Ndamzi for them to carry out DNA test which he has refused.
Andrew Nsirim said what the State Government did is to bring shame to his father’s lineage, stressing that Rumueme Kingdom has chosen Timothy Nsirim as their king and that the kingdom will go ahead with it.
The People of Rumueme while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt also said the three families of Rumukpakani who are traditionally allowed to select the Nye Nwe Eli have selected Prince Timothy Nsirim as the Nye Nwe Eli of Rumueme by the customs and tradition of the Kingdom.
Chief Asor Owhonda who represents the Owhonda family said what the Siminalayi Fubara-led government has succeeded in doing is to cause crisis in the kingdom.
According to him, traditionally, the Rumukpakani selects its king and presents to the entire Rumueme Kingdom which the people had done.
He added that they have been waiting for the second burial of the late HRM Omunakwe Nsirim and the burial of the oldest man in the kingdom before the coronation of Chief Timothy Nsirim.
Also, Chief Princewill Adiele, who represents Orokpo and Kingsley Iheanyichukwu Wobo who represents Oro-Agbolu said the people are not happy with the recognition of the monarch by the state government.
The both representatives said the entire people of Rumueme have chosen Prince Timothy Nsirim as their king and dissociate themselves from the steps taken by the State Government.
Both family heads said the selection of Timothy was done based on the tradition and customs of the people of kingdom.
They further explained that the State Government has no right or powers to chose who becomes their King, adding that they were not in support and not part of such display of shame.
“The government wants to cause division in the Kingdom over the imposition of Ndamzi Nsirim as the new Nye Nwe Eli after the entire kingdom have chosen Chief Timothy Nsirim.”
The Rumukpakani Community Development Committee Chairman (CDC), Anderson Eluda, further explained that the three families that made up Rumukpakani have chosen Timothy and that the people of Rumueme are solidly behind him.
Also, Amewhule Emeka Owhonda, a legal practitioner, explained that what the government has done is an aberration which will commence legal battle.
Owhonda noted that Rumukpakani is the first son of Ebara community and have the traditional right to select the Nye Nwe Eli of Rumueme Kingdom.
It would be recalled that Governor Fubara on Tuesday afternoon presented certificates of recognition and staff of office to two first class traditional rulers, His Majesty, Marcus Oduma Woyike, Nye Nwe-Ali, Elele Okinali/Elele Alimini in Ikwerre Local Government Area and His Majesty, Ndamzi Nsirim, Nye Nwe-Eli Rumueme Kingdom in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.