Crisis Looms In Khana Over Chieftaincy Tussle

The Seventeen Communities that form Bua Lueku Clan in NyorKhana in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State are now engulfed in a pall of apprehension and tension following a sharp disagreement among stakeholders over the filling of the vacant third class stool of ‘Mene Bue Lueku’.
While the first class Monarch in the area, the Gbenemene NyorKhana, King W.Z.P. Nzidee favours one Jeptha Nyako as his candidate for the stool, the Bua Lueku Council of Chiefs and Elders has unanimously endorsed Chief Adezor Mbaede, another contender for the stool as the popular and rightful candidate for the position.
The Bua Lueku Council of Chiefs and Elders recently registered their disapproval of the planned imposition of a candidate for the stool in a protest letter to the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, dated January 10, 2014, and signed by the Chairman, Chief Saturday Nwikonzor, and Secretary, Chief Lukcy Gbaranwi.
The protest leter, which was made available to The Tide, stated, that the Bua Lueku Council of Chiefs and Elders is the only body which under native law and custom is charged with the responsibility of selecting and presenting a unanimous candidate to the government for recognition and approval.
The Council of Chiefs and Elders also alerted that it would resist any attempt by a few community stakeholders close to the corridors of power to impose an unpopular candidate on the people, noting that such tendency would lead to resentment and chaos in the area.
It appealed to the Government to embark on a fact find mission of the popular view of the people on the issue, noting that traditional leadership was premised on popular acceptability and service to the people.
The council of Chiefs also faulted the first class Monarch, for “parading Mr. Jeptha Yaako as the nominee to the stool, contrary to the recommendations of an Advisory Committee set up by the first class Monarch based on government directive to fill vacant stools in Nyorkana, which recommended Chief Adezor Mbaedee, after thorough scrutiny of other contenders to the stool”.
Attempts by The Tide to get the position of King Nzidee, Gbenemene Nyorkhana, and former Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers on the mater was unsuccessful as he was said to be indisposed.
However, a top palace source confirmed to The Tide, that Jeptha Nyako was the considered choice of the first class Monarch and some top notchers in the area for the contentious stool.
It would be recalled that the last occupant of the stool, late Chief Brownson Yaako, who ascended the throne in 1994, died in 2004, and since then, the position had remained vacant.

Taneh Beemene