Agba community in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, over the weekend sacked its traditional ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Chukwukadibia Onyeneke, for his inability to enthrone peace in the community.

This came on the heels of the implementation of a vote of no confidence passed on the traditional ruler by Agba Development Union (ADU).

Agba is one of the nine villages in the community, others being Umuchi, Ula, Okpo, Eziagulu, Nkono, Abogwume, and Ihuokpala.

ADU accused the monarch of high-handedness and using divide and rule style of leadership to cause disunity among the people and in so doing negatively affected the needed development in the town.

ADU said: “Since Igwe E.C. Onyeneke mounted the throne as the traditional ruler and Igwe of Ekwulobia about a decade ago, peace has eluded the town and yet he is neither perturbed nor ever lost his sleep about it.”

The union also recalled all her representatives in the Igwe’s cabinet and traditional council insisting they will discontinue until peace is returned to the community.

In a statement by ADU, it explained that its decision to sack the town’s traditional ruler was hinged on lack of peace in the community since his emergence in December 2008 saying his sack is a move to restore peace to Ekwulobia.

The statement was signed by ADU vice chairman, Okoli Uchechukwu Bertrand, secretary, Engr. Okoye Ikechukwu Buddy and the union’s Legal Advuser, Bar. Augustine Ezeokeke Uchendu. It also revealed the rejection of the appointment of Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeike as President General of Ekwulobia or as a caretaker or Development Union.

The statement partly reads: “That a vote of no confidence is hereby passed on Igwe Emmanuel Chukwukadibia Onyeneke, Ezejiofor 11 of Ekwulobia.

“We reject the appointment of Rev Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeike as President General of Ekwulobia under any guise whether as a caretaker or Development Union.

“We hereby recall all our representatives in the Igwe’s cabinet and traditional council whether as Ichie, Aka-Ichie or Chief until when lasting peace is restored in Ekwulobia.

"The Agba Development Union shall continue to stand and support in its entirety the peace report of the religious/clergy committee dated 31st December, 2016.

“Henceforth we will no longer participate in any of the traditional activities of Igwe E.C. Onyeneke until peace is restored in Ekwulobia. Any person(s) who may continue to do so is on his own and do not represent Agba village.”

ADU condemned the attitude of HRM Igwe E. C. Onyeneke in truncating every attempt and move to resolve the lingering leadership crisis in Ekwulobia particularly the last peace report of the religious/clergy group.

The statement tagged “A call to action for peace in Ekwulobia”, added: ‘Igwe’s continuous rejection of peace process and accord marks him out as lacking in acumen and sagacity to lead. Igwe’s interference in the leadership of the town union whereby he chooses and handpicks any person of his choice who agrees to do his biddings as the President-General without following due process of democratic election is highly condemnable.

“Let us remind all that on 31st December, 2016, the religious Group in conjunction with all present placed a course against any person, persons or group of persons who will in any way truncate, disrupt or sabotage the peace accord.

“The good people and members of Agba Development Union, Ekwulobia, held their mid-year meeting on 29th June, 2019 at the Agba Village hall during which they reflected on the goings on and various issues concerning Agba Village in particular and Ekwulobia town at large, especially issues bordering on the lingering leadership crisis in Ekwulobia town.”

The people of Agba village painstakingly recalled with nostalgia the last peace efforts made by the Ekwulobia Indigenous/working clergy and religious group.

They regretted that the report of a committee of notable and highly revered men of God contained recommendations which if genuinely accepted and acted upon would have established permanent solution to the totality of all the problems that have bedevilled Ekwulobia town since the enthronement of the traditional ruler as Ekwulobia’s traditional ruler in 2009.

The statement recalled that when the peace report was presented to all the people of Ekwulobia on December 31, 2016, in the presence of Igwe E.C Onyeneke at the Ekwulobia township stadium, it was accepted by everyone as a working document towards the realisation of a permanent, sustainable and lasting peace in Ekwulobia.

According to the statement, the key recommendations in the peace report which was unanimously accepted and instantly put into implementation include; immediate collapse and dissolution of the two factional town union leadership of Ekwulobia Peoples Assembly, EPA led by Engr. Emeka Madubuchi and the other faction of Ekwulobia Development Union led by Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeike.

“It is important to note that these two factional leaders are natives and members of Agba village, Ekwulobia i.e (Agba Development Union. ADU).

‘The immediate formation of a new interim Executive Committee of Ekwulobia town with two representatives was instantly put into effect as all the village consulted amongst their members present as the August assembly and selected two representatives each that constituted the interim Executive Committee.

“The formation of a 29-member Constitution Drafting/Review Committee with the mandate to draft another constitution for Ekwulobia town, using the existing 1994 and 2010 constitutions as working documents.

“It is mostly regrettable that soon after the remarkable event and while the Ekwulobia community was still enjoying the aura of the recent peace that just arrived in the town, the traditional ruler and Igwe E. C Onyeneke made a U-turn and roundly rejected the peace report of the religious group, laying unsubstantiated claims and allegations against the reverend fathers, priests, clergy men and even members of the just constituted interim committee.

“He successfully frustrated and truncated the peace process and set up a Kangaroo Executive Committee led by Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeike whom he transmuted from a care-taker chairman and transformed into a President General.

“It is also worthy of note that in one of ADU previous meetings, pastor Ezeike was invited to explain to ADU how he became the PG, he could not offer any meaningful explanation except that he is the President General recognized by Anambra State Government. Amidst this crisis, all the entitlements due to Agba from within Ekwulobia and outside Ekwulobia including the ones from the Anambra State/Federal Government are not being accounted for.

“In fact, it is like the Igwe is benefiting from the leadership crisis in the town otherwise this last attempt by the religious group was the 4th in the series of efforts to find peace in Ekwulobia but the Igwe personally truncated it all.”

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