LAGOS – Protesters from Ohaji/ Egbema of Imo State in their hundreds stormed Government House Owerri, yesterday, blocking the entrance of the seat of government, accusing former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opiah and the Sole Administrator of the local government, Hon. Onyeaju Princewill of bad leadership and negligence.
The protesters alleged that the actions taken were capable of breaching the peace of the area and wondered why barely two weeks from the date Hon. Onyeaju Princewill was inaugurated as the Sole Administrator of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, his administration has been marred with protests over alleged bad leadership, saying that he has been acting the script of the former Speaker.
The protesters noted that on Monday, various communities in Ohaji/Egbema were thrown into panic as a result of harassment and sporadic shooting from hidden valley immediately the Sole Administrator (SOLAD) made a radio announcement changing the leadership of the various communities’ Town Unions in the local government just to accommodate his own choices.
According to reports, the SOLAD had announced caretaker committees to take over the leadership of the town Unions in the eight communities of Ohaji/Egbema and leave other fourteen autonomous communities untouched, raising questions on his intentions.
The protesters allege that the change of Community Town Unions’ leadership was targeted at the oil producing communities, including Awarra Autonomous Community, which conducted her Town Union election on the 27th of March and the inauguration taking place on the 31st of March, under the supervision of the community’s traditional ruler, while Obile community, also a victim of the announcement, inaugurated her own Town Union leadership on the 9th of April.
It was disclosed that Ochia And Assa autonomous communities, respectively, had officially communicated to the Local Government for its forthcoming Town Union elections and only to be ambushed by the SOLAD with radio announcement of the Town Union Caretaker Committee.
The protesters from the boiling communities of Ohaji/Egbema stormed Imo State Government House on demonstration to register their dissatisfaction with what they described as bad leadership styles of the newly appointed SOLAD, whom they accused on unleashing measures to fuel crisis in communities in the area.
According to them those behind this problem don’t love Governor Uzodimma and his government, otherwise, they wouldn’t have embarked on actions that would provoke the people warranting them to protest.
The protesters who were received at the government House by the Chief of Staff to Imo State Government, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie said that, their protest was to expose the ugly happenings in Ohaji/Egbema LGA orchestrated by the SOLAD, alleging that his actions were capable of throwing their communities back to restiveness.
According to the joint protest letter from Awarra, Ochia, Assa and Obile autonomous communities, signed by Mr. Lucky Onyiri who is the President General of Awarra autonomous Community, Mr. Obido Ndubuisi who is the President General of Obile community, Ifurueze Victor from Assa, Obinna Opara of Ochia and other leaders from the communities and submitted to the State Government with title “unlawful announcement of caretaker committees in our communities”.
The letter reads in part, “We’re here to protest the unwarranted radio announcement made on the 24th June, 2024 by the Sole Administrator of Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Hon. Onyeaju Prncewill in respect of the aforementioned subject matter.”
“We wish to unequivocally state that ascension to the office of the President General of our communities is by election and at no time was Mr. Saturday Ezekwe whom he announced for Awarra and Mr. Uche Ogbonna Festus whom he announced for Obile were elected as the President Generals of the Town Union, respectively.”
“Awarra Autonomous Community conducted its Town Union election on the 27th of March, 2024 and inaugurated on the 31st of March, 2024. Obile Town Union was elected and inaugurated on 9th of April and Ochia and Assa autonomous communities have inaugurated its electoral committees and communicated to the SOLAD.
“Prior to the election of Obile and Awarra, respectively, the Imo State Ministry of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government headquarters Mmahu and Umuagwo-Ohaji police division were duly notified and observers sent to monitor the elections and its processes.”
“The election of Awarra Autonomous community produced Mr. Lucky Onyiri as President General and other executive members. While Obile Town Union election produced Mr. Obido Ndubuisi Paschal as President General of Obile and other executive members.
“The executive members, respectively, were inaugurated and presented to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, respectively, and have since been carrying out their duties long before the appointment of the Sole Administrator.
“The tenure of Awarra Autonomous Community Town Union is three years and this current administration of Town Union has not expired.
“The tenure of Obile Town Union lasts for four years and still serving. While Ochia and Assa communities are seriously planning for their Town Union elections.”
“We are urging His Excellency to remove Ohaji/Egbema SOLAD for the interest of our dear State,” the protesters stated.
Addressing the protesters, Barr. Anyaehie commended them for their peaceful demonstration, charged them to remain law abiding citizens and assured them that the government will address their worries.