– Community Accuses DPO of Partiality
There has been renewed tension in the Orlu community over what many have described as the inordinate ambition of the church to take over the former premises of TESAC through the back door.
To this end, the palace secretary, Mr Okey Duru who from all indications is alleged to be an accomplice in the plot to shortchange the community, has controversially taken control of the Orlu Town Development Union’s (OTDU) WhatsApp platform. This has raised serious concerns about the involvement of the traditional ruler, HRH Eze Dr. Patrick Acholonu, and what many describe as a deliberate ploy to support those allegedly bent on forcefully taking over the community’s land.
It was gathered that this development came barely one week after one Chidi Acholonu, said to be a relative of the traditional ruler, reportedly wrote a petition against the leadership of OTDU. Following the petition, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Orlu directed that the meeting scheduled by the Town Union for January 9, 2026, should not hold.
However, the next day, the traditional ruler, through the palace secretary, convened another meeting on Monday, January 16, 2026.
Subsequently, the Town Union scheduled another meeting for Sunday. When the DPO got wind of the meeting, he ordered the President General to cancel it, while the meeting scheduled by the traditional ruler was allowed to hold a development community members have described as an act of partiality.
“It was during this meeting that Eze Acholonu allegedly directed the secretary of OTDU, Chinedu Uwadu, who was also an admin of the WhatsApp platform, to remove the president and the publicity secretary, leaving one Okey Duru as the sole admin of the two WhatsApp platforms,” a source said.
This action has continued to generate tension and heated arguments within the Orlu community, as residents question why the palace secretary and others allegedly loyal to the traditional ruler should be allowed to hijack what is regarded as the entire community’s channel of communication.
A community source, who pleaded anonymity, told this reporter that Chinedu Uwadu, who was used to effect the changes on the platform, is a staff member of the Catholic Church, making him an interested party in the matter.
Recall that late last year, the then President of OTDU, Augustine Nwadike, resigned, citing undue pressure allegedly mounted on him by the traditional ruler and those purportedly seeking to take over the former TESAC premises.
Thereafter, Mr. Marcel Okereke, the First Vice President, assumed office in acting capacity in line with the OTDU constitution. He was later confirmed as the substantive President by the General Assembly.
