– Reject Imposed Town Union C’ttee, by Ibekwe,Agbugba 

…Demands Agbugba’s Removal As Leader Of Council 

A large crowd of Obiangwu people in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, staged a protest on Wednesday, against the alleged name dropping, and peddling of inflammatory falsehood against Gov Hope Uzodinma, by Hon Chibuike Agbugba, Leader of Ngor Okpala Legislative Council, and imposition of members of the Caretaker Committee of Obiangwu Development Union, ODU, as announced by the chairman of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Hon Chika Ibekwe.

The community also called for the suspension of the councilor representing Obiangwu Ward 10 in the Ngor Okpala Legislative Council, Hon Chibuike Agbugba over these alleged misdemeanors in the interest of the community,Ngor Okpala LGA, and the ruling APC. 

 Addressing newsmen during the protest at Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, state secretariat Owerri,  a leader in community, Chief Clement Nwigwe said the people of Obiangwu at home and abroad rejected in  totality, the action of their councillor, Hon Agbugba, who is also the leader of Ngor Okpala Legislative Council, and Dr Perry Njoku who they accused of imposing their stooges on the community as interim executive of their town union, with the active connivance of LGA Chairperson of Ngor Okpala,Hon Chika Ibekwe,an action that is stoking tension and confusion in  community. 

Chief Nwigwe hinted that Obiangwu Development Union was about starting to plan for election, stressing that a that before the community could activate the processes for the exercise, the duo of Hon Ibekwe and Agbugba unilaterally fixed election without following due process and constitutional provisions,an action which the community vehemently opposed. He pointed out that following their rejection of the planned election,the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, directed that an interim executive should be appointed,while preparation for election go on. 

He noted that  on June 22, Obiangwu people held a home and abroad meeting via zoom were according to him, they unanimously agreed that each of the eight villages in Obiangwu should go home and bring one person to take a slot from the nine offices or positions available in the town union in the interim,a decision that was affirmed by voice vote. 

Chief Nwigwe said the community was shocked the next it learnt that Hon Agbugba and Dr Njoku went to a hotel and handpicked their boys and sent their names to the LGA Chairperson who approved the kangaroo list.

 He maintained that Obiangwu people at home and abroad have rejected the imposition, while standing on the decision reached at the recent stakeholders   meeting that each of the eight villages would produce one officer of ODU in the interim until election preparation is concluded and election conducted. 

Chief Nwige reassured the support of Obiangwu community to the administration of Governor Uzodinma, while also calling for the governor’s quick intervention on the matter. 

Also speaking,  Obiangwu Ward 10 APC chairman, Chief Emmanuel Agbakwuru said the alleged activities of the Ward 10 councilor, Agbugba was not good for APC as a party ahead of the coming elections. He said Agbugba’s alleged action in hand-picking the Caretaker Committee of ODU,  despite the advice of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon  Emele, was causing tension in the community as well as  rejected by the community.

He maintained that the action was also capable of pitching the community against the APC, and make it difficult for APC to win  elections in the community in future political outings.

He called for the suspension of the Obiangwu Ward 10 councilor,  alleging that the Obiangwu councillor,  for bringing Governor Uzodinma’s name into disrepute and ridicule by using his name falsely to fight his own selfish political battles against people of the Ward and Ngor okpala in general. 

He cited example with his recent allegation that Gov Hope Uzodimma told him and the other local government areas Legislative Council Leader’s at a meeting that he has ceded 2027 Owerri Zone Senate ticket to Prince Alex Mbata from Owerri North LGA. 

According to him, even though that was a lie from the pit of hell it has thrown APC in the council into disarray and angered members and leaders of the party and indeed, the generality of the local government,because it brought back pains and ugly memories of the long standing marginalization Ngor Okpala has endured in the political scheme of things in Owerri Zone. 

Another leader from the area, Chief Fidelis Okere made it clear that it was the turn of Egbelu village to produce the next president general of Obisngwu Development Union.  

He further disclosed that Ezi Obiangwu and Ekwereazu have taken their turns, and that the next president general should come from Egbelu.

He wondered what could be the interest of the councilor representing Obiangwu, Agbugba and Dr Perry in allegedly attempting to impose handpick the town union leadership on the community.

Meanwhile, after submitting a copy of their petition to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 

the protesting Obiangwu community also marched to the Imo House of Assembly, where they equally submitted copies of their petition to the office of the speaker of the assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe and that of the member representing Ngor Okpala state constituency, Hon Obinna Egu respectively.

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