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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
At least 3,000 aggrieved protesters, mostly women from the Ifite Nteje community, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, last Monday, picketed the state Government House, Awka, and protested alleged delay by the government to issue the Igwe-elect of the community, Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo, with the Certificate of Recognition.
Some of the aggrieved protesters carried placards with the inscriptions such as, “Justice for Ifite Nteje”; “Let the rule of law prevail in Nteje”; “Governor Soludo please come to our rescue”; “It is the turn of Ifite Nteje to produce the next monarch”; “Justice delayed is justice denied”; and “We believe in due process, speak for freedom,” among others.
Leader and spokesperson of the protesters, Engr. Obiorah Julius Mgbakogu and Obidi Peter, respectively, told the Chief of Staff, Chief Ben Nwankwo, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Egbuna Okeke, that the Igwe-elect of Nteje, Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo, was duly elected in a keenly contested election.
“We are surprised that since his election he has not been issued with the Certificate of Recognition by our amiable Governor Chukwuma Soludo (Oluatuegwu), and that is why we are here.
“There are three villages in Nteje and the first, Ezi, produced Igwe S.A.C. Nnaemeka (Abogu 1), who joined his ancestors. Ikenga village had Igwe Rowland Odegbo, (Abogu II), who also joined his ancestors. The government records have them as monarchs of Nteje, and now that it is the turn of Ifite village to produce Abogu III, Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo emerged victorious.
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“Out of eight contestants, Nnebo won by landslide with 50 percent votes and the rest shared 50 percent. So our plea to Governor Soludo is to present a Certificate of Return to our Igwe-elect. We know he will do that for we are peaceful and voted for him en masse.
Also speaking, the APGA women leader in Oyi Local Government Area and leader of women wing in Nteje, Mrs Juliana Ibefuna, disclosed that Nnebo was elected by his people, adding that since his election, peace has been restored in Nteje.
“We are happy that, today, we are at Government House Awka, to plead to our governor to come to our rescue because it has been long we elected Nnebo and Certificate of Returns has not been issued to him.
“Out of the three villages in Nteje, two that is Ezi and Ikenga have taken their turns except Ifite. Your Excellency, your intervention will save us from enemies of progress who may be frustrating the progress of the entire Nteje community,” she stated.
In his response, the Chief of Staff commended the protesters for the peaceful way they conducted themselves, adding that their grievances have been noted and would be communicated to the governor.
He recalled that earlier, a group protested that it was her right to produce the next monarch of Nteje, adding that their grievances will be channeled to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to be looked into.
