The Obohia-Ndoki community in Ukwa East LGA of Abia State has pleaded with the state governor, Alex Otti, to urgently intervene and prevail upon the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to discontinue its plans to impose an eze-elect other than the one they selected for themselves.
The community made this appeal yesterday when they protested at the premises of the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Umuahia, stating that they would not allow ministry officials to impose someone else on them after they had, through due process, selected Chief Monday George as their new traditional ruler following the death of their previous ruler about two years ago.
Led by George Marshall, a son of the late community elder Uloelu Lawrence George, the community carried placards with different inscriptions and chanted protest songs. They accused the ministry of complicity in imposing a contender other than their choice and appealed to the state governor, Alex Otti, to “send some people to come and investigate or hear from the people of Umuokoroaja. We have the evidence and a letter written to that effect.”
“Our traditional stool is rotational. The late traditional ruler came from Umuokorota, and it is now the turn of Umuokoroaja people,” they said, urging the Commissioner of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, “to conduct a proper investigation before concluding on the matter.”
Also speaking, Prince Ihueze Dike, the son of the late traditional ruler, confirmed that it is the turn of Umuokoroaja village of the Obohia-Ndoki community to produce the eze-elect, explaining that, having held their election, Monday George was duly elected as the eze-elect.
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He lamented that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is backing the second contender, who is threatening that he must be the next traditional ruler of Obohia Ndoki.
However, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has denied the allegation, stating its position on the matter.
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Florence Chidinma Nwogu, the ministry does not have a hand in the selection of a traditional ruler for any community; that responsibility lies with the people.
She said the ministry would make a decision based on what the constitution says and will take its findings and suggestions to the state governor for his final decision.
She urged the Obohia-Ndoki community to remain law-abiding pending the conclusion of the investigation.
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