Anambra govt dissolves Oko town union, cites crises over appointment of Okopoly’s governing council

• Constitutes caretaker committee
The Anambra State government has dissolved the executive council members of Oko Town Union, in Orumba-North Council, citing crisis in the community.

The Guardian gathered that the crisis emanated from appointment of a representative of the community into the governing council of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

The state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, announced the removal of executive members of Oko Peoples Union (OPU), led by Amaechi Okoli as the President General, to the Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba -North Council, Ogechukwu Ekwueme in a letter dated February 26, 2023.

In the letter titled, ‘Dissolution of Oko Peoples Union Executive,’ the commissioner explained that government took the action to address the “crisis rocking the community with regard to the town union election of OPU, held on January 11, 2021.”

Nwabunwanne noted that petitions from stakeholders in the community showed that the election of the union was marred by protests, and that the community had been in crisis since the leadership came into place.

He said: “After investigation and critical appraisal of petitions before this ministry, it was revealed that the January 11, 2021, town union election was marred by crisis and protests.

“The state government has already constituted a caretaker committee to run OPU, ensure peace in the community and make appropriate arrangements to conduct a free, fair and transparent election for the community in December this year.”

It was, however, gathered that Igwe Laz Ekwueme, who is younger brother to late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, had been alleged to be having unfriendly relationship with management of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, as well as the Federal Ministry of Education, for accepting Sopuru Ezeonwuka.

It was further gathered that the sacked OPU executives midwifed the appointment of a former member of the House of Representatives, Ezeonwuka, as representative of Oko Community without consulting the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Ekwueme.