Anambra: Soludo urged to intervene in Nawfia leadership crisis

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

President General of Nawfia Progressive Union (NPU), Anambra State, Ozo Ifeanyichukwu Nkemka, has appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in a lingering town union leadership rocking the community.

Speaking at a press briefing in Nawfia yesterday, he said only the timely intervention of the governor could forestall an impending threat to the peace of the community.

Nkemka stated that some members of the community had perpetrated various acts of illegality, criminality and irresponsibility over the town union matter.

Nawfia community has been factionalised into two groups, with separate leadership. This, Nkemka revealed, was caused by alleged refusal by the relevant government officials to issue certificate to Nkemka, who is deemed to be the authentic President General of the town.

Nkemka emerged as the President General of NPU in an election in which all the villages in the area participated. But a faction of the union, allegedly supported by a top government official from the community, organised another one, thereby heightening tension in the community. The town union leader said the crisis was gradually growing into a violent one, and urged the governor to intervene.

He said: “We are calling on our amiable governor to please intervene and stop what some people in his government are doing in our community because they have interest in their friends becoming President General, against the wish of the people.

“We tried making government to recognise us after a court judgment, which pronounced that we are the authentic leaders of Nawfia, but they have blocked us from being recognised.

“I went to the Attorney General and she told me that because the other party had filed an appeal against an earlier judgment on the matter, she would not advise the governor or the commissioner in charge of chieftaincy affairs to recognise me.”