Residents of Umuihueze Autonomous community in Akwete Ndoki Kingdom of Ukwa East local government in Abia State have alleged an attempt to impose a traditional ruler on the community by the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs.
They linked the commissioner, Uzor Nwachukwu and the member representing Ukwa federal constituency at the National Assembly, Chris Nkwonta, to the plot.
The protesters spoke after the ministry conducted a plebiscite for a traditional ruler for the community which Daniel Nwuzora won at the local government headquarters in Akwete.
Reacting to the allegation, the commissioner denied suggestions of personal or financial inducement as a motive for the petition, adding that the protest would not discredit the exercise.
Similarly, the federal lawmaker said the allegations was unfounded and sued for peace in the community in particular and the constituency in general.
But speaking to newsmen, the palace secretary of the community, Ogbonna Chijiuche, underlined the need for the people to be allowed to choose their traditional ruler through the laid down procedure.
Chijiuche, who explained that the community had existed for almost 500 years, added that the well-established system of succession had never been known to be associated with tussle.
He said the community’s council of chiefs had unanimously nominated and presented Augustine Ogbulu as their Eze-elect and initiated processes for the government to ratify the nomination and coronation.
“The council wrote the state government through the office of the commissioner requesting to present Onyenweala VII as our chosen traditional ruler based on the system which it approved,” he said.
He wondered what happened after the approval to make the ministry opt for a plebiscite, which he argued is alien to the community’s laid down procedure for succession.
According to him, their traditional institution, Onyenweala, has existed for more than 400 years with King Agbara Akunwata Otuji, the Onyenweala 1 of Akwete Umuihueze autonomous community.
“The Onyenweala III after Dadaa Ekeke Agbara the Onyenweala II was King Okerenta Ekeke Agbara who signed a treaty with the British in 1892, thus, bringing Akwete under British Protectorate, after Lagos in 1860,” he said.
The secretary, who said the last Onyenweala VI, King (Eze) Truman Wabara Akpara died in 1980, appealed to the governor, Alex Otti, to intervene with the urgency it requires.
Another member of the council, Onyekwere Onyema, said the commissioner and legislator were bent on desecrating the institution for reasons best known to them.
