Some community leaders in Enu Agu autonomous community of Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu state, have rejected their Igwe-elect, Mr. Sylvester Nnaji.
The angry leaders posited that the election of the Igwe-elect did not follow due process, hence he was imposed on them.
For this reason, they have called on the Enugu state government to conduct a fresh election for the community so that a credible and popular traditional ruler will emerge.
In the same vein, the protesting community leaders rejected the President General (PG), Ikenna Ogbodo, who they claim is self-acclaimed.
They described the Igwe-elect and the PG as impostors that should not lead them.
Those championing their ouster include Mr. AnniNneji Stephen Sunday, National Chairman, Enugu Village, Enu Agu autonomous community; Chief Festue Chukwuemeka Chukwuma, PG, Ugwuafor; Chief Felix Ikechukwu Edeh, National Chairman, Offiaigweshi Village and Chief Michael Edeh, former traditional Prime Minister, Ugwuafor.
Not comfortable with what is happening in their community, they took their protest to the Enugu state House of Assembly, the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs as well as the Government House, Enugu insisting that for peace to reign, the needful should be done.
“The members of the newly created Enu Agu autonomous community, Akpugo in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu State, have distanced themselves from the fabricated and unveiling lies by the purported Igwe elect of the autonomous community, Mr. Sylvester Nnaji and Ikenna Ogbodo self-claimed PG of Enu Agu Autonomous Community Akpugo.
“In their various fabricated lies and allegations against one of the Labour party chieftains in Enugu state, Chief John Edeh (Chief Okaa Oburu Uzo) who contested Nkanu East/West Federal constituency in the 2023 general elections, they alleged that Chief Edeh is not from Enu-Agu Autonomous Community.
“It is false, because the young man was born and brought up in Enu-agu autonomous community and has been of great help to the community in many developmental areas.
“It is a typical lie and instigation of blackmailing at the highest order by the impostors Sylvester Nnaji self-claimed Igwe elect and Ikenna Ogbodo self-claimed PG that Labour Party chieftain Chief Barr John Amaechi Edeh (Okaaoburuzo) is instigating communal war because it is known that he is loved by his community Enu Agu and that’s why he led peaceful protest against injustice, intimidation, and segregation engineered by the impostors in his Enu Egu Autonomous Community Akpugo Nkanu West Local Government Area Enugu State.
“Notwithstanding, we wonder why the crafty impostors of Ikenna Ogbodo and Sylvester Nnaji should bring in political affairs in this peaceful demonstration because it has no link to politics whatsoever, but their ill intended and malicious means of orchestrating crisis in the said community using politics. There is no party in this issue as it is a community affair.
“Our amiable Governor is working for every citizen of Enugu and Nigeria beyond, irrespective of party, tribe, religion and location.
On September 25th, 2024, numbering in our hundreds, Chief Edeh led members of the community, journeyed peacefully to Enugu town, to express our agitation and protest, orally and in written, questioning how just two families out of the 22 in the community could unilaterally dictate decisions without facing any resistance,” they pointed out in a statement.
“On a final analysis, they sued the Enugu State Government to intervene in their community.
“We Are Praying For Quick Assistance From The Government Of Enugu State To Constitute A Panel Of Inquiry To Investigate The Communal Discrimination Against Particular Families, Calling Them Slaves And They Are 98 Percent In Number While Those Impostors Are 2 Percent Residents In Enu-agu Community.
“Our position is that “The representatives of the 20 families—despite not being consulted or contributing to the government in the creation of Enu Agu Autonomous Community—have accepted the new community structure, but the Enu Agu Community is yet to establish a code of conduct to govern the selection, installation, and oversight of traditional rulers, neither have a Town Union or Constitution to guide our leadership been established.
“Our demands are simple: “Let the Government of our wonder working Governor, Barr. Peter Mbah come to our air by calling for an election to be conducted within the community so as to prevent impending communal crisis.
“We are saying no to impostors, Sylvester Nnaji and Ikenna Ogbodo, and we appeal to the relevant authorities for timely intervention to prevent breakdown of law and order,” they posited.