…As Enugu Govt suspends election indefinitely
The hope of Obeagu Community in Awgu local government area of Enugu state to get a new traditional ruler in a recent time has been dashed.
A meeting held on Saturday, 13th May to resolve the impasse couldn’t yield the desired result as both factions held onto their position. While a visible majority insisted that the constitution of their community on chieftaincy matters should be followed, the other faction said a new process unknown to the papers will have to be introduced.
Some of the community leaders that spoke to our correspondent, insisted that anything short of following what the constitution said will not be allowed to stand.
Mr. James Okafor Chibuike said the process of choosing a king is well spelt out and it’s important that what the constitution said must be followed, adding that Ignweship is a serious matter and must be handled with utmost caution.
Chief Emmanuel Uzodimma maintained that “what the constitution said is what we must do. The late Igwe was installed following the same constitution and we won’t allow anyone to destroy our village.
Agu Okorie Nnajiofor wondered why anyone would suggest abandoning the constitution.
“Majority insisted that the constitution will be followed in electing the next Igwe of Obeagu. You can’t abandon the constitution which is known to every member of the community and start doing another thing.
“Electing a traditional ruler based on the tenets of the constitution will foster peace, orderliness and progress in our land.”
As a result of the inability of the community to reach a consensus on the modality for the election, the honorable commissioner for chieftaincy Matters Chief, Barr, CAC Egumgbe after his meeting with the members of the community today, May 16th, 2023, suspended the process indefinitely.
Journalist101 investigation reveals that the provision of Obeagu Community chieftaincy constitution indicates that an Igwe will emerge through a delegate selected from all the villages that made up Obeagu Community.
It was also gathered that a section of the constitution is vehemently against one of the aspirants for the Igweship. The constitution stipulates that both the President General and Igwe of the community will not be from the same village and the PG is from Enugunabonaobuo where one of the aspirants is from.
Also, the constitution has another provision that says anyone aspiring to be the Igwe of Obeagu will not marry from any unfriendly neighboring community and one of the aspirants is married to a lady from a community that’s at war with Obeagu over land dispute.
The other faction are arguing that the constitution should be made away with and allow them elect their leader via a general election.
