The Council of Elders, Itim Autonomous Community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has petitioned the State Governor His Excellency Rt.Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru over the alleged imposition of loyalist Mr.Chukwu as their next Ezeogo traditional ruler against the wishes of the good people of the community.
The prominent leaders of the community who initiated the petition to the Governor alleged that the chairman, Afikpo Local Government Council Mr. Uchenna Ibiam is using his incumbent position against the entire Community.
The petitioners noted that matter has divided the Community into two factions disuniting the community that has been living peacefully with one another before the chieftaincy tussles started with one faction loyal to the traditional Prime Minister/Regent of the community, Chief Oko Emmanuel Chukwuma and other Spokesperson in the community, Chief Augustine Ekwe Eluu popularly known as Okabue in the Community.
AFRIPOST learnt that Elder Eluu’s faction produced Chief Joseph Mbe Chukwu as the new king of the community and has presented him to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe for recognition.
However, the Traditional Prime Minister’s faction rejected Chukwu’s emergence and his presentation to the state government while accusing the Local Government chairman, Uchenna Ibiam of imposing Elder Chukwu against the community’s wish.
However, when AFRIPOST contacted Ibiam on telephone, he denied the allegations saying, “I didn’t impose any candidate on the people of the community. As the Chief Security Officer of the local government, I actually provided enough security personals against any interruption during the election which is proper, but my questions are: Did any of the security arrest any body? Did the security stop any body from voting? Did anybody attempt to disrupt the voting process by not allowing the eligible voters to vote? It was only when the group of persons who are accusing me with their utterior motives wanted to cause trouble that the security personal intervened.
He also said that since the matter had been charged to court, there is no justification for them to petition the Governor. He added that they should wait for the court to decide.