AWKA — Hundreds of placard-carrying people from Oraukwu community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, stormed the Government House, Awka, protesting the alleged imposition of one Emeka Onuorah as the traditional ruler of the town.
Led by the president-general of the town, Chief Harold Mbanusi, the people alleged that they received information that the state government would give Onuorah, who is one of the contenders to the throne, a certificate of recognition today at the Governor’s Lodge.
Some of the placards displayed by the people read, “Anarchy looms in Oraukwu over Igweship,” “Government should not hoist an unpopular people on Oraukwu,” “Money bags should not highjack Oraukwu traditional stool,”
“Oraukwu crisis can only end with recognition of Igwe Pius Okoye,” and “Igwe Oraukwu is not for sale.” Mbanusi recalled that in an election conducted for the three contestants to the throne in December last year, Chief Pius Okoye scored 535 votes, Vincent Okechukwu scored 20 votes, while Dr. Emeka Onuorah got 15 votes and wondered why the person who came last in the election should be made the Igwe after an exercise that was transparent.
He said that according to the constitution of Oraukwu, Ezennaja-Amada village should produce the Igwe, adding that it was for that reason that the other villages in the town did not participate in the election.
He said though there were deliberate efforts by a minute section of Oraukwu to undermine the exercise, the election was eventually held on December 29, 2015, adding that at the end of the exercise, the results were announced and authenticated by a representative of each of the kindred in the Ezennaja-Amada village, the Obi of the village, a chief from the village and a representative of the chairman of Idemili South LGA.
“The entire process was very transparent and credible and observers from government of Anambra State were on hand to monitor the exercise,” he said.
He urged Governor Willie Obiano to intervene in the matter to douse the tension in the community, adding that the people of Oraukwu had vowed that over their dead bodies should Onuorah become their traditional ruler. Mbanusi later handed over their protest letter, as well as video clips of the election exercise and the presentation ceremony of Okoye to the community, to the Chief of Staff to Governor Obiano, Professor Joe Asike, who promised to brief the governor on the matter.
By Vincent Ujumadu – Vanguard
