The people of the Nkomoro autonomous community in Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi State have peacefully protested the state House of Assembly directive that Barr Jacob Nwakpa be crowned as the community’s Eze-elect.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Nkomoro community have never benefitted from Jacob Nwakpa”; “Nkomoro traditional stool is not for sale”; “Jacob Nwakpa is not our choice”; “Imposing a traditional ruler on us may cause crisis”.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP, the national president of Nkomoro Youth Assembly, Mr Peter Agbom and the acting town union president, Mr Obiora Ezaka, said the people did not elect the purported Eze-elect and would not rule over them in that capacity.
“We reject the attempted and remotely manipulated efforts to impose a traditional ruler on Nkomoro by external elements, masterminded by a particular family.
“That at no place, time or forum within any inch of Nkomoro land was Barr Jacob Nwakpa nominated or elected as Ezeogo of the Nkomoro Community.
“It was strange and an insult to the integrity of the judicial system that Mr Chikodili Nomeh would assume authority (under the guise of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee) to pass a resolution over a matter pending in court without regard to a subsisting order of court restraining parties to maintain the status quo.
“We reinstate our trust in the ongoing judicial process while we vehemently refuse and would resist any further attempt to impose a traditional ruler on the good people of Nkomoro without a free and transparent election guided in a participatory process.
“Therefore, we call on all men of goodwill to join us in partnership to enthrone and maintain peace in the Nkomoro Community.”
Some aspirants to the position, Mr Joseph Ogayi, a retired police officer, and Prophet Igwe Cletus, explained that all the contestants are of Oriuzor kindred and appealed to the state government to visit and conduct a free and fair election for the office.
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