3,000 protesters storm Anambra Govt. House over Igweship tussle

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

No fewer than 3,000 aggrieved protesters, mostly women from Ifite Nteje community, Oyi Local Government Area, have stormed Anambra State Government House, Awka, and protested delay by the state government to issue the Igwe-elect of the community, Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo with certificate of Returns.

Some of the aggrieved protesters carried placards with the 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, Obiorah Julius Mgbakogu and Obidi Peter respectively, told the Chief of Staff, Ben Nwankwo, who was ably represented by his Deputy, Egbuna Okeke, that the Igwe-elect of Nteje, Christopher Okechukwu Nnebo, was duely elected in a keenly contested election.

“We are surprise 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 and the first, Ezi, produced Igwe S.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 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, Juliana Ibefuna, disclosed that Nnebo was duely elected by his people adding that since his election peace has been restored.

“We are happy that today we are at Government House Awka, about 3,000 of us, 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.