…Accuses town union leader of intimidation, land grabbing

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Tension has enveloped Enugwu-Agidi community, Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State,following protests against the President General (PG) of the town Union, Hon. Ebuka Onuorah by members of the community who accused him of intimidation, oppression, land grabbing and dictatorship.

Though the PG denied all the accusations against him, the community members have cried out to Governor Chukwuma Soludo seeking his intervention to save the community from the unending crisis.

The protesters, who took to the streets and village markets to vent their anger yesterday, displayed placards of different inscriptions to drive home their demands.

Speaking to the media, Mr Vincent Onyekwelu, accused the President General of being high handed, creating factional leadership across the villages and branches of the community unions, including the youth and women wings.

“Our PG is not following the constitution of the town union. I have sent video evidence to the government officials of how he used thugs to disrupt burial and other communal gatherings. He is in charge of land grabbing. Most of our lands have been sold. Our women no longer go to markets. We want the government to remove him,” he complained.

Also speaking, Hon. Mrs Grace Aghauche, leader of Etiti Village women wing, alleged that the President General organised an election to replace her in the month of June instead of waiting for the month of December when they normally meet.

The traditional ruler of Enugwu-Agidi, Igwe Michael Okekeuche, who spoke on the development through his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ifeanyi Ndulue, said he received the petitions of the protesters with deep concern, and urged them to remain peaceful as efforts are ongoing to address their concerns.

The monarch said, “The troubling reports of an ongoing protest in our land, a protest rooted in pain, injustice, and a desperate cry for peace. We are witnessing what no community should ever endure. Let us not allow chaos to consume what generations before us laboured to build,” he stated.

When contacted at Enugwu-Agidi town hall, the venue slated for the Central Executive Council meeting of Enugu-Agidi Brotherly Union, the President General, Hon. Ebuka Onuorah described the protests as a ploy to stop the proposed meeting.

Onuorah denied all the allegations leveled against him noting that the protest was politically motivated. He said that he enjoys the overwhelming majority support of the members of his community.