From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The traditional ruler of Ukawu autonomous community, Onicha Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Vincent Ajah and the former prime minister of the community, Chief Omenga Elum, are exchanging banters over the academic qualifications of the monarch.
While Elum alleged that Ajah forged the first school leaving certificate he used to contest for the traditional stool of the community, the monarch hit back and described him as a serial blackmailer, insisting that he genuinely acquired his first school leaving certificate after attending primary school.
At a press briefing in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Elum asked Ajah to resign his position or face prosecution for possessing forged certificates.
He alleged that the academic credentials of the traditional ruler were not linked or traced to any government or private schools in Ebonyi State as being paraded by the monarch.
“This Ezeship tussle in Ukawa started last year and we were five contesting for the same position. We went for screening at Nwalibulo’s compound through the town union president and leaders of Amaukuma. The leaders of Ukawa told us things to bring and they asked for our traditional merit.
“At that time, this traditional ruler had not married or done any traditional rite, it was after the screening that those he planned to use to man over the election started using monetary inducement.
“After the screening, they screened some of the contestants out and said that I am qualified to contest but there was a time I took our late traditional ruler to Court and anybody who has done this is not qualified to contest for any positions in our community. But I know the reason I took the traditional ruler to court; if I had allowed him, he would have caused communal war in our community.
“It is entirely Amaukuma that took late traditional ruler to court not me alone; just that my name was among the three names that represent the community and the Constitution of Ukawa did not say that anybody who is in court over a land dispute, civil issues is not qualified to contest Ezeship
“Ukawa constitution only said that if you have a criminal matter, like forging certificates, murder case etc, you are not qualified to contest.
“After everything, I thought it wise to take him to court knowing full well that he is not qualified to contest for the Ezeship election. He doesn’t have credentials to stand for the election in our community,” Elum said .
But, the traditional ruler, through his spokesperson, John Elom, said the monarch fulfilled all the necessary requirements before contesting the position he occupies now and described Elum’s allegation as baseless.
“We would have ignored the said report but because of those that had been misled by the said publication and since the matter is still in the court, we have this to say.
“The traditional stool of the Ukawu community is not based on educational qualifications but other criteria which one must pass and they include literacy, nobility and character, among others.
“Igwe Vincent Ajah passed all the criteria required for one to become eligible to contest for the kingship of the community.
“Igwe Ajah defeated his opponent with 570 votes against 73 votes garnered by the closest opponent in the election supervised by lkeuwa Omebe, the Commissioner for Rural development in November 2023.
“Ajah, after fulfilling all the requirements needed, was issued a certificate of recognition and staff of office as Ogenyi IV by Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State as the Igwe of Ukawu community.
“One of the contestants, Mr. Ezoghu Elum, who was stripped off his chieftaincy title by the late Ezeogo James Elom, (Ogenyi III) because of his bad behaviour doted his certificate but was cleared to contest the Eze ship stool because certificate was not a major criterion for the position.
“Elum’s allegation is defamatory, provocative and disparaging, whose intention is to cause public opprobrium, cheap propaganda and disaffection towards the claimant by members of the public.
“Note that the Ogenyi 1V, Ezeogo Vincent Clinton AJah, started his early education at Central School, Amankpuma Ukawu in Onicha LGA, and obtained his (FSLC) in 1991. He attended Government Secondary School, Afikpo, and obtained West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1997. His further qualifications include National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State,” Elom said.