The People of Rumueme Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State, has rejected His Royal Majestic, Ndamzi Nsirim as the New Nye Nwe Eli of Rumueme Kingdom, as allegedly recognised by the state government.
The younger brother of the monarch, Andrew Nsirim had alleged that the newly recognised Nye Nwe Eli Rumueme is not the biological son of his late father His Royal Majestic Omunakwe Nsirim, reason for the rejection.
Andrew who made this claim yesterday, said his father late Omunakwe Nsirim told him that Ndamzi is not his biological son which i also confronted him with.
He vowed to go to court to proof the paternity, saying that he had pleaded with Ndamzi for them to carry out DNA test.
Andrew said “what the State Government did in recognising Ndamzi 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 community people while addressing journalists on the issue, also said “the three families of Rumukpakani who are traditionally allowed to select the Nye Nwe Eli has selected Prince Timothy Nsirim as the Nye Nwe Eli of Rumueme by the customs and tradition of the Rumueme Kingdom”.
Asor Owhonda who represented the Owhonda family said what the government of Rivers State has succeeded in doing was to allegedly cause crisis in the Kingdom.
According to him, “traditionally, the Rumukpakani selects their king and present to the entire Rumueme Kingdom which we have done, but we waiting for the 2nd burial of the late HRM Omunakwe Nsirim and the burial of the Oldest Man in the Kingdom before the coronation of Chief Timothy Nsirm”.
Also speaking, Princewill Adiele who represents Orokpo and Kingsley Wobo who represents Oro-Agbolu said the people are not happy with the recognition of Ndamzi Nsirim, thereby disassociate themselves from the recent recognition of the new monarch.
They further explained that the State Government has no right or powers to chose who becomes their King, adding that they are not in support and not part of such display of shame.
On his part, the Rumukpakani Community Development Committee Chairman (CDC) Anderson Eluda explained that the three families that made up Rumukpakani have chosen Prince Timothy Nsirim and that the People of Rumueme are solidly behind him.
It will be recalled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday, 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.