.......Leaders Accuse Eze Chidume Okoro of Rigging
their Eze-ship Election
By Nnamdi Iheagwaram
There has been palpable tension in the
ancient Kingdom of inyishi autonomous community over the press release by the Secretary
to Government of Imo state, Prof. A.G. Anwuka, in respect of the presentation
of staff of office to 92 newly recognized Traditional Tulers in which the Eze
Elect of the ancient Kingdom of Inyishi, Prince Ugbondu Nnanna Andrew Osuji,
was deliberately omitted and in his stead the name of Chief Obed Anyanwu whom
the community said never won their Eze-ship election held on 16th
July 2013 was entered. The town which is usually busy now very quiet as the
staff of office is about to be presented today. Nigerian Hotline gathered that
since the history of the ancient Kingdom the people of the area are noted for
sticking to their guns when it comes to important policy decisions and they
wondered what will become of the community in the event of the Government going
ahead to make this presentation to Chief Anyanwu.
According to information reaching us, Chief
Obed Anyanwu had lost the election having polled 398 votes as against the 552
votes by Prince Nnanna Osuji who won the election. The people of the area
however accused Eze Chidume Okoro of perfecting the plot of influencing the result
of the Eze-ship election of the community without due regard to, not only the
peaceful disposition for which the ancient Kingdom is known for, but also the
customs and traditions of the land.
A community leader who prefers to be
anonymous said that he is aware that the community will not leave any stone
unturned in their effort to recover what he described as the stolen mandate,
describing it as a rape of democracy. Stressing that this setting aside of the
people’s will would not go away just like that. When Prince Ugbondu Osuji was
contacted, he said that the matter is with the ministry of Community Government
Council, haven paid a mandatory fee of N20,000 as charges for legal suit to
enable them look into the matter but expressed surprise that the Ministry of
Community Government Council never handled the matter till date. Prince Osuji sadi
that when they came for the case before the Governor’s panel, the Governor
handled every case but regretted that when it came to their turn, the Governor
took his leave having been exhausted for the day and this had resulted in the
matter lingering till date and when Eze Ohiri tried to mediate in the matter,
Obed Anyanwu left the hall and immediately calls started coming to Eze Ohiri,
hence preventing him from giving a fair
hearing to the matter and Eze Ohiri therefore discharge them on the premise
that the Governor will handle the matter himself.
Prince Osuji therefore said that up till date
nothing has been done about the matter and they were compelled to petition the
Peace and Conflict Resolution headed by Engr. Peter Ohawa who started handling
the matter until High Chief Lawrence Onumajuru intervened in the matter and
decided to withdraw the case for peaceful settlement, which they obliged him
and he consequently constituted a panel which was to be comprised of five
persons from both parties.
He, howerver, regretted that Chief Obed
Anyanwu had 13 persons representing him having been told to do so by one Chief
Dr. Johnbull Nwaiwu against the decision of High Chief Onumajuru and this did
not go down well with the revered Chief who in turn quarreled with the
secretary of the panel Chief Boniface Iheoha on the issue. Continuing Prince
Osuji said till date Engr. Ohagwa has not said anything about his findings
pointing out that it is Dr. Nwaiwu who claims to be close to the Governor who
said that he will will use his closeness to the Governor to ensure that the
will of the people in that election does not see the light of the day. Prince
Osuji therefore urged the government to hearken to the voice of reason and act
according to the heart beat of the people. Meanwhile efforts made to reach Eze
Chidume Okoro and Chief Obed Anyanwu were unsuccessful as at press time.
©2014
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