Aniocha North area of Delta State were pensive on Saturday
following the revelations by the queen mother, Okwukwe
Nwoko, that she was sent away from the palace two years
ago over allegation of infidelity.
Madam Okwukwe accused the crown prince and his loyalists
of framing her and sending her out of the palace so the
former could achieve his desire of succeeding the 90-year old
monarch.
Now she is threatening a court action to reclaim her position
in the palace...
The monarch, Obi Agbogidi Nwoko III, married four wives but
divorced two while one is dead, leaving Madam Okwukwe as
the only recognised wife staying with him before the alleged
adultery.
37yrs old Madam Okwukwe, in an interview with newsmen
said she was unjustly accused of infidelity and sent out of the
palace with seven-month-old pregnancy, which she claim
belonged to the king.
She said has troubles started after a failed plan to reconcile
one of the King's former wives with the palace and some
persons vowed that no wife of the Obi would remain in the
palace since the move failed.
The queen mother claimed that when she was accused of
infidelity, she agreed to a DNA test or be allowed to take the
traditional oath to prove her innocence . She said her accusers
refused and drove her out despite the unproven case of
infidelity.
Madam Okwukwe said while the matter was being addressed,
she was stopped from entering the palace.
According to her, she lived peacefully with the monarch before
the incident. She stated that the pregnancy she was accused
of getting through infidelity produced a baby who is now
about three years old.
She also said the baby had neither been seen nor touched by
her father since her birth.
Madam Okwukwe has appealed to the Obi-in-Council, opinion
leaders and the royal family to intervene in the matter, adding
that she “wants to go back to the palace and take care” of
her husband.
But a member of the royal family, identified as Prince Obi
Nwoko, is insisting that Madam Okwukwe indeed committed
infidelity and cannot be allowed back into the palace
according to tradition.