Chieftaincy tussle: Enugu community demands panel of enquiry

Concerned Citizens of Obuno Uno Autonomous Community, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State have called on the leadership of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers led by Igwe Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu to constitute a panel of enquiry to investigate the purported imposition of a traditional ruler on the community.

DAILY POST reports that there has been heightened tension in the community over the choice of a new traditional ruler.

The concerned citizens said the Council of Traditional Rulers should intervene in order to avert a looming crisis and restore the confidence and respect the public had on traditional institutions.

According to the group, “the call was as a result of the recent purported presentation of certificate of recognition to Chief Jack Nwatu as the traditional ruler of Obuno Uno, by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Local Government and Rural Development, Deacon Okey Ogbodo with violation of the procedure.”

Their demand, made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday, was signed by Chief Godwin Chukwuemeka Ogbodo, the leader of the group.

While expressing disappointment over the attitude of the commissioner, they said no verification nor election of any sort took place in their community for the Igweship stool before the purported presentation of certificate of recognition.

They further explained that allowing such impunity would set a bad precedent for the recruitment process of traditional rulers in Enugu State and South-East in general, which would in turn throw many communities into avoidable crisis.

They accused Ogbodo of contempt of court, alleging that “he presented the certificate in defiance to the pendency of suits on the matter- No. E/132/2019, E/30m/2020 and HAG 13/2022.”

They said whereas Ogbodo claimed to have gotten approval from the governor, their investigation showed that to be untrue as “the governor is a lawyer and who believes in following due process of law in resolving issues.”

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Enugu State had earlier called for the suspension of the Commissioner, Ogbodo over alleged flagrant abuse of office, promotion and instigation of crisis in communities.

They equally demanded for an immediate withdrawal of the purported certificate of return issued by the commissioner.