By JOY MBACHI

Dr. Chinedu Ikeanyi, an indigene of Enugwu-Agidi Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, has petitioned the state government over alleged attempts by the community leadership to cause crisis in the area.

He said the move had the potential to polarize the community and worsen the insecurity being experienced in the state.

His position was contained in a letter sent to Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and entitled “Rescue Enugwu-Agidi from the Bondage of President-General Ebuka Onourah.”

He said the community has been living peaceful under the umbrella of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) Nigeria which served as the administrative arm of the Community, while the traditional ruler, Igwe Okekeuche, remains the cultural leader and father of the community.

In the letter seen by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Awka, Ikeanyi alleged that since Onuorah became the President-General (P-G) of the community, it has witnessed unusual security challenges while development had been stagnated.

“For many years, Enugwu-Agidi has been known as a peaceful town with enormous joy and unity among her indigenes, villages, and with her neighbouring towns and communities.

“We, the indigenes of Enugwu-Agidi self-developed our town with functional infrastructure. In 1978, we built our first secondary school, Enugwu-Agidi Community Secondary School, formerly known as Enugwu-Agidi Girls’ Secondary School.

“In 1979, we built the Enugwu-Agidi Technical School (GTC), a secondary school for our boys, Rural electrification in 1985 and first tarred road in 1987.

“Other developmental projects followed through successive and productive leaderships of our town union through the constitution that guides Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) Nigeria, which the PG discarded,” Ikeanyi said.

He said that EBU is the umbrella organization responsible for the administrative leadership of the Town Union with membership open to every male indigene from 18 years old.

The EBU executive members are elected every three years in a general election, while the traditional ruler, Igwe Michael Okekeuche, remains the cultural leader and father of the community.

According to him, in recent times, the community has witnessed unprecedented security challenges including violence, molestation, and physical abuse of residents, which he said were instigated by the P-G.

Ikeanyi said to register their displeasure over the leadership style of Onuorah, and that the chairmen in the 10 villages that make up the community passed a vote of no confidence on him and demanded his resignation.

Ikeanyi, therefore, appealed to the State government to immediately commence an impartial investigation into the complaints against the P-G with a view to restoring sanity in the community.

He further alleged that embattled P-G was imposed on the community through the manipulation f the ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

When contact Onuorah denied any wrongdoing, saying that the allegations against him were false.

He told NAN the allegation of abuse of office, instigating violence and crime brought against him were the imagination of those against his style of leadership, adding that he had always promoted peace in the community.

He said that under his leadership, the community had fared better in the areas of peace, crime-free and infrastructure development.

According to him, those opposed to his leadership of the community are those who do not understand his style of leadership and deep-rooted belief in fairness and equity.

Also reacting, Nwabunwanne denied any hand in the emergence of Onuorah as the PG.

The commissioner told NAN that the ministry does not interfere with the election of community leaders but only function as supervisors on the election day.

He said the ministry operates an open-door policy without bias and assured that every complaint to it would be attended to in a transparent and just manner. (NAN)