By Ifeizu Joe
Indigenes of Amaokpala community in Orumba North Local Government Area on Tuesday registered their displeasure over what they described as unwarranted plan by cabals within the community to unseat their elected President General, Mr. Chukwujekwu Okoli, and institute a caretaker committee.
During a peaceful protest at the Light House, Awka, the community carried placards with inscriptions such as “Mr. Chukwujekwu Okoli is our liberation PG,” “Vote of confidence on elected PG,” “We don’t want caretaker,” “In our elected PG we stand,” and “We have suffered enough in the hands of cabals,” among others.
Briefing the Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, who received them at the Light House, the spokesperson of the group, Architect Chukwudi Onuorah, said the crisis began when a certain individual took the community to court and later sought to be conferred with a chieftaincy title, which he said was against the norms of the community.
He explained that although the community later met with the individual and asked him to withdraw the court case before being considered for the chieftaincy title, the individual refused to do so and insisted on being given the title, a demand the community declined.
Contributing, the youth leader of the community, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwafor, and the women’s spokesperson, Mrs. Felicia Uzochukwu, noted that instead of abiding by the collective agreement, the individual allegedly issued a query to their elected President General, Mr. Okoli, and threatened to remove him if he refused to allow the community to bestow the title on him, noting that leadership of the community presently rests solely on the President General since there is no traditional ruler.
They stated that the President General was elected in June 2024 for a three-year tenure, and wondered why a cabal would seek to frustrate an election conducted after over nine years of stagnation caused by the caretaker committee system in the community.
While chanting songs of solidarity with their elected President General, Ndi Amaokpala made it categorically clear that they do not want any caretaker committee in the community and that their elected President General should be allowed to serve out his tenure before another election is conducted.
Responding, Chief Ezeajughi commended them for expressing their grievances peacefully and reminded them that the ongoing dualisation of their road by Governor Soludo is a clear indication that the Governor has their interests at heart, urging them to continue to support the present administration for a better Anambra State.
Mr. Ezeajughi further assured them that he would convey their message to the Governor as quickly as possible and expressed confidence that lasting peace would soon return to the community.
