Loading ...By Chuks Eke
No fewer than 3,000 aggrieved indigenes of Nteje community in Of Local Government Area of Anambra state stormed the state Government House, Awka on Wednesday in protest against what they perceived as an undue delay on the part of the state government in issuing a Certificate of Returns to the Igwe-elect of the community, Christopher Okechukwu Nebo.
The protesters, mostly women, carried placards with various inscriptions: “Justice for Ifite Nteje. Let the rule of law prevail in Nteje. Gov. Soludo, please come to our rescue. It is the turn of Ifite Nteje to produce the next monarch. Justice delayed is justice denied. 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 Soludo’s 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 recent keenly contested election.
“We are surprised that since his election, he has not been issued with the Certificate of Returns by our amiable Governor Chukwuma Soludo, (Oluatuegwu), and that is why we are here”.
“There are three villages in Nteje namely Ezi, Ifite and Ikenga and Ezi has taken it’s turn by producing Igwe A.C. Nnaemeka, (Abogu 1),who joined his ancestors. Ikenga village had Igwe Rowland Odegbo, (Abogu 11), 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 the Abogu 111, Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo emerged victorious.
“Out of eight contestants, Nnebo won landslide with 50 per cent votes and the rest shared 50 per cent. So our plea to Governor Soludo is to present Certificate of Returns to our Igwe-elect. We know he will do that to us 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 duly elected by his people, adding that since his election, peace has been restored.
According to Mrs. Ibefuna, “We are happy to be here at the Government House Awka, today to plead to our Governor to come to our rescue because it has been long we elected Nnebo and Certificate of Returns is yet to be issued to him”.
“Out of the three villages in Nteje, she stated, Ezi and Ikenga have taken their turns remaining Ifite. Your Excellency, your timely intervention will save us from enemies of progress who may be frustrating the progress of the entire Nteje community”.
Responding, Chief of Staff commended the protesters for the peaceful manner they compucted 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 their right to produce the next monarch of Nteje, adding that their grievances will be channeled to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for proper consideration.
