Imo State : APC, community demand resignation of LG chairman, leader
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
The All Progressives Congress, APC, Obiangwu/ Ezemba Ward and some concerned indigenes of Obiangwu Autonomous Community in Ngor Okpala LGA, Imo State have called for the resignation of Hon. Chika Ibekwe, Executive Chairman of Ngor Okpala and the council leader and councilor of Obiangwu Ward, Hon. Chibuike Agbugba for alleged anti-party activities.
In a petition signed by Chief Emmanuel Agbakwuru, Ward Chairman of Obiangwu/Ezemba APC, Hon. Chukwuma Anuforo, Chief Clement C.Nwigwe alongside other party chieftains and stakeholders under the aegis of Obiangwu Stakeholders Forum, made the call Wednesday during a peaceful demonstration to Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Imo State House of Assembly.
The petitioners posited that the call for resignation of the duo became necessary following the recent unwholesome actions and inactions of Ibekwe and Agbugba which reportedly undermine the interest of the ruling APC in the area.
They accused Hon. Ibekwe and Hon. Agbugba of arbitrarily imposing an interim Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of Obiangwu Development Union, ODU, contrary to the choice of the community describing the move as ‘undemocratic and unacceptable.’
Nwigwe, Agbakwuru and the other signatories also accused the embattled council chairman and leader of unguarded utterances, high-handedness and name-dropping by declaring publicly that Governor Hope Uzodimma had adopted Prince Alex Mbata as the sole candidate for Imo East senatorial ticket come 2027
In addition, the group alleged reckless lifestyle in public places against the two elected leaders pointing out that their activities constitute nuisance and drag the image of the council and Governor Uzodimma to disrepute.
They therefore prayed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ruby Emele and the member representing Ngor Okpala state constituency, Hon. Obinna Egu, to cancel the caretaker committee as announced by the Local Government boss.
They further requested Hon. Emele to ‘quickly supervise the process of nominating caretaker committee members for each of the eight villages of Obiangwu in line with the resolution of the stakeholders’ meeting held last Sunday.
Reacting to the protest, a former Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Primary Health and indigene of Obiangwu, Dr Perry Njoku dismissed the protest and allegations against Mrs Ibekwe and Hon. Agbugba as baseless and misguided.
He described the stakeholders’ meeting as a nullity as it was not organized or conducted by any known authority in Obiangwu Community adding that the council boss appointed and inaugurated the ODU caretaker committee in line with the directive of the state government.
Dr Njoku explained that the committee has already commenced work in earnest and therefore urged the public and Imo State government to discountenance the protest and petition of ‘opposition group.’
According to him, Obiangwu Community is calm and peaceful after the inauguration of the committee and the community is solidly behind Governor Uzodimma and the ruling APC in appreciation of their son, Dr Cliff Ogbede into SEDC.
