By Our correspondent
The Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Town Union Affairs, Hon TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, has been accused of stoking the crisis in Nimo Community, Njikoka LGA, by continuing to recognize Engr Dan Anakpe as President General despite a court judgement nullifying their election.
It will be recalled that a Neni High Court had on December 18 last year ruled that the Nimo town union elections held in January last year were not done according to the town’s constitution and directed the conduct of fresh elections by a caretaker committee.
However the Anakpe group appealed the judgement but failed to obtain a vacation order.
According to Ogbuefi Frederick Awagu, JP, PRO, Nimo Elders Forum, rather than reprimand the Engr Anakpe-led executive for contempt of court, the Commissioner said the judgement had been appealed against and that it was only after a higher court upheld the earlier judgment that he would recognize any other person.
But Awagu has challenged the Commissioner to mandate the other group to produce a vacation order by the court which would absolve them of contempt of court.
He expressed disappointment with the stance of the Commissioner, noting that the situation had led to the other party fomenting trouble in Nimo, as well as ridiculing the traditional ruler of the town.
He referred to a recent incident where the Anakpe group refused to allow the royal father of the town to speak at a funeral ceremony of the wife of a cabinet member, which, he said, nearly led to a brawl.
“This is a highly provocative act capable of causing a security breach in the town,” said Awagu, who called on the Governor of Anambra State to wade into the matter and prevail on the Commissioner to do the needful to avert crisis in the town
Nimo Community has been embroiled in crisis for over a year following the activities of some elements believed to be working against the traditional ruler and who at every turn attempt to ridicule the throne as was the case at the funeral ceremony where they attempted to stop him from speaking to the bereaved member of his cabinet.
