Tension Mounts In Anambra Community Over Nkwo Agbaja Project, Demolition

Tension has heightened in Agbaja community over the control and development of the Nkwo Agbaja area, following a dispute between the community’s traditional and executive leadership over the construction of a proposed stadium and other structures.

The dispute has also raised questions about the extent of the traditional ruler’s powers, the Obi of Agbaja, Chief Pius Ezeigwe, and the authority of the Agbaja community president, Chief Ugonnia Anie Ekunie, in decisions concerning communal projects and traditional sites.

The controversy centres on structures reportedly erected at Nkwo Agbaja by the Agbaja community president in collaboration with a philanthropist. The structures were subsequently demolished, shortly after the traditional ruler was threatened with legal action over the development in a video obtained by LEADERSHIP.

The commissioner for information, Anambra State, Law Mefor, told our correspondent that he can’t speak on the issue as he does not have the details of what happened.

Asked about the demolition of the project, Mefor, who is also from Agbaja community, said, “I have no idea of what happened. I saw it on social media.”

According to information provided by concerned community members, the demolition has heightened fears and mistrust among residents, with questions raised about who authorised the destruction and why it was carried out at a time when the identities of those responsible could not be easily established.

One of those raising concerns, Ugonnia, in a recorded message, alleged that the development had exposed a deeper disagreement over the exercise of authority within Agbaja.

He alleged that Ezeigwe, although the custodian of traditional institutions and customs in the community, had exceeded his traditional responsibilities by interfering in matters that fell within the administrative authority of the Agbaja community president.

He said the Nkwo Agbaja stadium project, which appears to be at the centre of the latest disagreement, belonged to the community as a whole and was under his command as the president of the Agbaja community.

One of the community members, Maurice Chukwuka Efobi, who is the secretary to the Obi in council, said in a video message that the original design for the Nkwo Agbaja stadium, which they said was conceived as a substantially larger facility, will be done after the necessary traditional activities on the land.

However, those backing the community president allege that the traditional ruler has used his position as Obi of Agbaja to exercise powers beyond his traditional mandate and intimidate community members who disagree with him.

They further alleged that Ezeigwe’s opposition to the construction was presented on the basis that the project posed a threat to traditional deities located around Nkwo Agbaja.

However, the community members questioned whether the traditional ruler personally has exclusive authority over the deities and sacred sites in the area.

The dispute has also brought allegations of abuse of office against Ezeigwe

Those backing the community president allege that the traditional ruler has used his position as Obi of Agbaja to exercise powers beyond his traditional mandate and intimidate community members who disagree with him.

They further alleged that Ezeigwe’s opposition to the construction was presented on the basis that the project posed a threat to traditional deities located around Nkwo Agbaja.

The community members questioned whether the traditional ruler personally has exclusive authority over the deities and sacred sites in the area.