Enugu community denies protest against monarch, town union

Members of the newly created Enu-Agu autonomous community, Akpugo in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu State, on Thursday, distanced themselves from a purported protest against their monarch and town union to the Enugu State House of Assembly and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, saying the protesters were hirelings and not members of the community.

The community also expressed firm and unwavering support for their newly recognised traditional ruler, Igwe Sylvester Ikechukwu Nnaji, and the town union executives.

In a statement made available to The Guardian by the President General of Enu-Agu autonomous community, Akpugo, Mr. Ikenna Ogbodo, he described the protesters led by a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) as impostors, urging the state government and members of the public to disregard the protesters and their demands.

They reiterated their support for Governor Peter Mbah, saying that they are pleased with his administration for opening up communities in the Akpugo corridor for development and investment, particularly the construction of PRODA-Nchatancha Nike Road.

It could be recalled that penultimate week some people claiming to be indigenes of the Enu-Agu community were alleged to have staged a protest denouncing the creation of the autonomous community and the recognition of Nnaji as the traditional ruler by the state government.

Ogbodo said failed politicians should not drag the new community into partisan politics, stressing that the sponsor of the protesters, who contested and lost the House of Representatives seat for the Nkanu East/West federal constituency during the 2023 general elections, is not from the Enu-Agu community but Ogonogo Eji Ndiagu Akpugo.

He explained that Ogonogo Eji is the mother of the three other autonomous communities, namely Ogbozinne Community, Ugwuafor Community, and the newly created Enu-Agu Community. The PG maintained that Enu-Agu is very calm and peaceful.

Ogbodo said: “Members of the community have been going about their lawful businesses without any form of agitation from any quarters whatsoever. The failed politician attempted to coerce the new monarch and the town union into covering up his shady land dealings prior to the creation of Enu-Agu from Ugwuafor.

“But when they refused to do his bidding, he moved against them. Surprisingly, the man fomenting trouble in Enu-Agu was a signatory to the constitution of Ogonogo-Eji Ndiagu Akpugo where he belongs.”

Tracing the genesis of all the autonomous communities, Mr. Ogbodo recalled that the administration of Governor Chimaroke Nnamani first carved out Ogbozinne community from the mother Ogonogo Eji Ndiagu Akpugo, and later carved out Ugwuafor before he left office in 2007.

“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi carved out Enu-Agu from Ugwuafor. After the creation of Enu-Agu, we started the processes for the creation of our Igwe. Many candidates were vying for the position.

“Igwe Sylvester Ikechukwu Nnaji was chosen by our people. The local government recommended the people’s choice to the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.

“The Ministry issued a Certificate of Return to the person recommended by the local government. We equally have a town union duly recognized by the State Government with a President General, Secretary, and other executives. The town union has a tenure of four years,” he added.