Some natives of Obeagu Ugwuaji community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Thursday, demanded the dethronement of their traditional ruler, Igwe Christopher Ikenga, over alleged land-grabbing and administrative high-handedness.
The protesters gathered at the front of the Government House, Enugu, to lodge their complaints. They were led by their Town Union President, Chukwunonso Obi.
After making a brief appearance at the Government House, bearing placards with different inscriptions, they thereafter marched to the Enugu State House of Assembly complex and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.
They were received at the assembly complex by the member representing Nkanu East State Constituency, Honourable Anthony Okoye, who commended them for being peaceful.
Okoye said the House of Assembly has the constitutional mandate to oversee matters relating to local government administration and chieftaincy affairs in the state.
According to him, “The House of Assembly oversights both the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, including the town union government in all the local governments and localities of the state. We are going to activate the power of our oversight over their complaints.”
He said that the matter would be addressed by first making a formal submission of the Obegu Ugwuaji petition to the Speaker of the House, who will subsequently issue a directive committing the document to the appropriate House Committee.
”The designated committee will launch an in-depth investigation, summoning all relevant parties, including the accused traditional ruler, Igwe Ikenga, to present their sides of the conflict in an open, fair hearing,” he said.
He said the committee would then present a comprehensive report of its findings and actionable recommendations back to the floor of the House.
From the state assembly complex, the protesters marched to the State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, where they briefed the ministry’s Commissioner, Dr Charles Egumgbe. Egumgbe appealed to them to remain law-abiding. He also regretted the recurring instability at the community.
He warned those attempting to derail the community’s administration to desist henceforth, adding that the state government was troubled by the petitions, police interventions, and administrative friction coming from the community.
He said, “The case of Obegu is worrying the Enugu State government. We are worried about the matter concerning your community. The government of the state is worried by the fact that every day, something demoralising is happening in this community.”
He said it was a pity that the community’s natural land assets, “which should have been utilised to develop the local environment, have instead become a source of division, with factions constantly dragging each other to external security agencies”.
He told the protesters that he had already briefed Governor Peter Mbah regarding the Ugwuaji crisis, promising to deliver a fresh, comprehensive report detailing the community’s demands for the monarch’s removal.
He urged the protesters to return home peacefully, expressing hope that the traditional ruler would retrace his steps and work toward reconciling with his aggrieved subjects.
(The Whistler)