Exit Of An Icon: A Tribute To Chief Ezeogo Uma Nchege Nwoke

By Chukwudi Ebele

Some aggrieved youths of the Nnobi community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, under the auspices of 'Concerned Nnobi Youths,' have called on the State Government to stop the Nnobi Welfare Association President-General, Barr. Dom Okpala, and other prominent members of the community from attempting to dethrone Igwe Engr. Nich Obi under the guise of submitting a Peace Committee Report.

They accused the PG of being biased and high-handed, alleging he has been working with the chairmen of Ngo Nnobi and Ebenesi Nnobi quarters, whose tenures have long expired, instead of facilitating an election to replace them. 

The Concerned Youths took their protest to the Government House in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday via a peaceful demonstration, as they learned that the PG and some community members were holding a meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters, and Community Affairs, Hon. Collins Nwabunwanne. They alleged that the Final Report of the Nnobi Peace Committee, convened by the Okpala Nnobi/Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Ifezue Onyechi, was doctored and submitted to the Commissioner without being read to the Nnobi General Assembly.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as "Enough of Sacrilegious Witch-hunt against the Royal Throne," "Nnobi Peace Committee Report is a fraud," "Loss of Confidence in the leadership of the PG Barr Dom Okpala," "Etuka who has been the key agent of anarchy was planted by the PG to doctor the so-called Peace Committee Report," "Say No to Sit tight expired leadership of Ngo and Ebenesi Quarters," and "Till date the Allegedly Doctored Peace Committee Report has never been proofread nor approved by the Nnobi General."

Speaking during the protest, the youth's spokesman, Emeka Eze, flanked by Christian, said that the youths were unhappy with the situation in Nnobi community, adding that they wanted the Government to listen to their voices. "We are here for two major reasons. Firstly, Okpala Nnobi, Chief Ifezue Onyechi, convened a Peace Committee, but along the line, the report was doctored by the PG and Etuka, which even led one of the committee members to petition them to the police," he claimed. 

"Till date, the alleged doctored committee report has never been proofread or approved at the Nnobi General meeting. The Igwe and the Igwe-in-Council were never given any copy of the report. Instead, the PG and his cohorts, whose agenda was to sack Igwe Omenyili, an 87-year-old man, refused to present the report to Nnobi people and the Igwe-in-Council but ran speedily to submit the report directly to the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters, and Community Affairs. What if there are errors or omissions? Will you ask the commissioner to give you back the report?" Eze alleged.

"Secondly, the chairmen of Ebenesi and Ngo quarters, Chief Obiora Okongwu and Dr. Pat Mbanefo, respectively, have been sitting tight in office since their tenure expired. They should vacate the seat for others to take over leadership," said Eze. "We are here because our Solution Governor has listening ears. Moreover, any person kicking against an authority like the traditional ruler's institution is Anti-Soludo Government," Eze alleged.

Christian Izuegbunam reiterated, alleging that the Peace Committee was hijacked by some people who want to dethrone the Nnobi monarch, saying that people whose tenure has elapsed or who have issues or outstanding cases should not have been appointed by the PG to be part of the committee.

Responding to the protesters on behalf of the Commissioner for LG, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, the Ministry's PRO, Comrade Henry Nwasike, commended the youths for their comportment. He said he was surprised to see the protest, as a meeting between the Commissioner and stakeholders of the Nnobi community was ongoing at the time to resolve the crises in their community. He emphasized their goal to restore peace and tranquility in Nnobi in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo's vision of ensuring peace in every community in the state. Nwasike asked the protesters to articulate their views on the Nnobi saga in writing and submit them to the Ministry to have their input, which would help them arrive at a fair judgment.

Nwasike said: "Soludo's Government will listen to you. It does not side with anybody. Soludo's Government is for peace in the communities."

However, in a swift reaction when contacted by phone, the PG of Nnobi, Barr. Dom Okpala, said that there was no point referring to a baseless incident, claiming that the people who came to protest at Government House were mercenaries hired from neighboring communities. 

"There were no youths that came to Awka from Nnobi for any protest. The legitimate youths that came to Awka from Nnobi were right inside the Government House with the Commissioner for a stakeholder’s engagement meeting. The people you are referring to are hired mercenaries from Amawbia, Amansea, and Ugwuoba communities. There is nobody like Eneka Eze in the entire Nnobi Youth, but we know who was behind that."

"When the intelligence report came while we were having a meeting with the Commissioner, the Youth leader, Amb Chigozie Aghaonu, stood up and assured Nnobi stakeholders and the Commissioner that those youths inside the meeting were the legitimate youths and could not leave the important meeting or be distracted by people they don't know," said Okpala.