For people of Aguibeje community, the election of an Igwe for their autonomous community rather than bring them joy and unity, is threatening the very foundation of peace that exists in the community.
The election which is meant to produce their Igwe might be marred by violence and wanton destruction of properties.
The strong feelers on ground is that the election which hitherto was planned to be free, fair and credible is being thwarted by external interferences, subversion of justice, breach of the community constitution, bribery, administration of fetish oaths using threats and threat to lives.
So far, it is gathered that an electoral committee set up by the Town Union President with good intentions has been divided along interest lines leading to subversion of justice.
The community constitution is evidently clear as to how the delegates are to be selected but contrary to the constitution, the elders in council who have been bought over and forced into oath taking alongside their deputies have decided to be a clog in the wheel of progress of Aguibeje community. If the constitution which stipulates that each kindred should submit 2 delegates thus; the eldest man or his representative and an elite from the kindred is strictly followed, there won’t be rancour but due to inordinate ambitions, some money bags/politicians outside Aguibeje community are using their clueless surrogates in the community to coerce the gullible elders into oath taking.
As it is now, their is palpable tension in the community and uneasy calm all over the place.
ELECTORAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
To further proof that all isn’t well, the electoral committee chairman that’s expected to conduct the election has resigned few days to the election.
Mr. Augustine Ugwu who was very optimistic the day he was appointed to head the electoral body has thrown in the towel siting irregularities, division among members, looming violence and threat to his life as his reasons.
Mr. Ugwu who reportedly handed over his resignation letter to the Town Union President, Mr. Tony Obiora Nwaeze on Friday 21st May, 2021 thanked the PG for the opportunity given to him by the appointment but added that he is resigning for fear of violence as evidenced by what is already playing out in the process of selection of delegates.
According to him; “If the elders who are supposed to be purveyors of peace are spoiling for war, what is our hope?”
Mr. Ugwu posited that “the Igweship tussle is not worth the blood of any member of the community” and called on the supervising ministry, the Local Government Authority and the Government of Enugu State to act promptly so as to avert this looming danger.
He maintained that “there are already orchestrated plans to unleash mayhem on the people by some miscreants during or after the election if their choice candidate fails to emerge.”
He ended by saying that “he will always commit the community to prayers.”
CONTEMPT OF THE COURT?
A legal luminary and counsel to Chief Leonard Eze, one of the leading contenders to the Igweship Stool of; G. O. Ugwuoke Esq. has notified the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters Enugu State; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu state; the Executive Chairman Igboeze North LGA and the President General of Aguibeje Town Union of a pending litigation with Suit No: EZ/25/2019: Vincent Ngwu & anor. V Leonard Eze & anor. at the High Court of Justice Enugu-Ezike wherein the plaintiffs are contesting the validity of the election of the 1st Defendant, Leonard Eze, as Igwe elect, which election was held on the 11th day of November. 2018.
Barr. Ugwoke averred that “conducting the election on the 24th of May, 2021 or any other date whatsoever without first dispensing with the substantive suit aforementioned is tantamount to contempt of court as the action will amount to what is termed subjudice in the legal parlance and prosecutable.”
In view of the foregoing, the lawyer urged the government apparatus mentioned above to “ensure that no other Igweship election should be held in Aguibeje Autonomous community until the suit under review is determined.
WE AREN’T Safe THE PEOPLE CRIES OUT
Some members of the community that spoke to our correspondent lamented that all isn’t well in their place and should this election go on, they might not recover from the aftermath in the next 25 years.
Some of them alleged that thugs have already been imported into the community from neighbouring Kogi State and this will spell doom for the community if the hoodlums are unleashed on them.
They called on the local and state governments to stop the election and find out what exactly is going on and mobilize the security agents to come into the town to smoke out these foreign bodies before any election can be conducted
