Jim Nwobodo’s community ‘suspends’ traditional ruler

The General Assembly of Amechi Awkunanaw Development Union (AADU) has suspended the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Anthony Ogbodo Okorie over allegations of imposing a factional leadership on the people.

The Igwe has denied the allegation and faulted his purported suspension.

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South East Trust reports that Amechi Awkunanaw Community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State is the hometown of a former Governor of old Anambra State and one-time Minister of Sports, Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, who represented Enugu East Senatorial District in the Third Republic.

The General Assembly, which is the highest decision-making body in the community, during its recent meeting at Amechi Civic Centre described the current security situation in the community as ‘precarious’, blaming the traditional ruler for the crisis in the area.

The President General of Amechi Awkunanaw Development Union (AADU), Chief Paul Agbo alleged that the traditional ruler has been running a parallel town union as against the one duly elected by a majority of the people and supervised by the officials of Enugu State Government.

Agbo also accused Igwe Okorie of illegally selling the community land and single-handedly managing the finances of the community.

Also, a former Secretary-General of Amechi Awkunanaw and pioneer Chairman, Enugu South Local Government Area, Dr Stephen Ikengwu, accused Igwe Okorie of financial indiscipline and masterminding rebellious division in the area.

“When an election has been conducted and the traditional ruler, who should be the father of every member of the community, becomes the champion of insurrection, no government or community should tolerate it in addition to reckless spending of community funds and such evidence were provided,” Ikengwu said.

However, when contacted on phone, the embattled Igwe Okorie debunked all the allegations made against him, claiming that the General Assembly of the community had no power to meet without his authorisation.

The native ruler said: “The allegations are false. In the first place, do they have the right to suspend me? Don’t take them seriously. They have no right to do that. My community is with me. They have no right to call the Assembly without the Igwe’s authorisation.”

But in a telephone interview, the factional Chairman of the Amechi Awkunanaw Development Union (AADU), Chief John Egbo, however, declined comment on the issue, saying that the matter was already in court.