… Insist On Adherence To Constitution Of Community

…Drums Support For Uzodinma

By Ikenna Orioha 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Owerri Senatorial Zone in the 2023 election, Dr. Alex Mbata, has said that he is passionately committed to his community, Ngwoma Obube, having a good man as the traditional ruler. This, he said speedy development, peace and progress of the agrarian community.

Hence, his alignment with the Ezeship rotation agreement of Ngwoma Obube autonomous community as enshrined in the constitution that produced Chinedu Ekeocha, who according to him, is presently awaiting his Staff of Office and Certificate of Recognition from the state government.

Mbata who stated this while briefing journalists at his residence in Owerri, last week affirmed that he did not breech peace and orderliness in the area as regards who occupies the royal stool as alleged in the media by some persons he described as desperados, adding that the offence purportedly   was that he told the people to align with the rotation arrangement that was unanimously enshrined in the community’s Ezeship constitution in electing a traditional ruler to avoid ezeship problems, underperformance  and other inadequacies the people experienced  late Eze Stephen Onukogu’s reign.

The frontline politician and business mogul who had positively impacted the lives of people in Owerri Zone in particular, hinted that he was not personally against the Onukogu royal family  but as a person who believes due process, he supports the fair decision of the people of Ngwoma Obube in having an Eze in line with the dictates of their Traditional Stool constitution. apart from the Ezeship rotation clause, Prince Nkemakolam Onukogu is very incapacitated to rule the community, just as his late father. 

“Besides, few months ago, my community, Ngwoma Obube, for the first time had an Ezeship issue. Our Eze died over a year ago. Before the Eze died my younger brother was the President-General of my community.

“When I was informed that Eze had died. I consulted and was told that  Eze had not died. To my shock, I did not know that some people in the community had rumoured that I wanted to become Eze. I told my younger brother to resign as PG. He went to the community’s platform and resigned. Immediately after his resignation, within 24 hours, the group shot 21 gun salute in the area  because of my  brother and I.’ 

“I started wondering if the rumors were true. The same group plotted to appoint a PG against the community’s Ezeship election guidelines and I said no and stopped them through the DSS.”

“About four or five years ago, the community prepared a constitution wherein they agreed that the Ezeship will be rotated. But the  group brought one of the late Eze’s sons from America to become Eze, thereby thwarting the Ezeship rotation agreement.” 

“The community insisted that the  Eze will not come from the late Eze’s family because he neither  performed well nor served the community dutifully as custom required. He also did not attend Ezes’ Council meetings. We do not want this kind of thing again.”

“Besides, the man the group wants to be the Eze is not fully acquainted  with the culture and tradition of the community does he speak Igbo language. He looks very sick, mentally and  physically vulnerable. The people said he is not qualified to be their traditional ruler.

“The community also said no to the imposition of a US based sick man as Eze. They decided to elect a credible man who emerged through a credible and transparent electoral process. They invited DSS, Ministry of  Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Nde Oha (Council of Elders) in the community and Chinedu Ekeocha was elected as  the Eze-elect of Ngwoma Obube autonomous community in  Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State”, Mbata stressed.

“A week ago, the same group  came out to crown the US based Prince Nkemakolam Onukogu without a Staff of Office and Certificate of Recognition by the government. How is this possible?

Before this time, I was constructing nine kilometers of road (ring roads) in my community (from Ulakwo to Seat of Wisdom Seminary, to Ngwoma Obube, to Egbelu and back to Ulakwo Express Way). The ring road with dual drainage is almost completed.

“On the day of the purported coronation, construction was going on at Ulakwo. And I was not aware of the ceremony. I only saw the pictures on social media. So, how could I have blocked the road at Ngwoma Obube to prevent their coronation ceremony which could not have been fruitful given their illegality.

All that rubbish has nothing to do with me. My concern is that my community must have a good traditional ruler. I’m not against them as a family. In my life, I have never been against anybody. I have only stood for uprightness because I’m an upright man who believes in humanity. And Chinedu Ekeocha will be the Eze of Ngwoma Obube. What we are awaiting are the Staff of Office and Certificate of Recognition.

“It is unfortunate  that I was wrongly accused by the desperate group in the media,  hence I advise journalists to investigate their reports before filing to  litigation”.

While urging Imo people supporting the 3R administration championed by Governor Hope Uzodimma to improve governance, Mbata pointed out that the regime is performing excellently especially in the aspects of quality road construction, the renovation of Concorde Hotel, the iconic IICC building and the regular payment of pensions to Imo retirees, among others.

“Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, is doing well. The 3R administration is different as there are many remarkable projects perfectly executed in the state today. He had done quality roads across the state, for example, the IICC, the renovated Concorde Hotel which will soon be called Hilton Hotel, payment of pension to retirees regularly. I strongly support Uzodimma, for he is a core democrat”, he added.

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