Abuja, NIGERIA – Exacerbating crisis echoes, fears grow, peace eluded and grim picture of prospect for repression painted, Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State shredded and torn asunder. The people are desperately yearning for a peaceful way out to stop what is perceived as inflammatory rhetoric and posturing of the former governor of old Anambra State, Sen. Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, whom they accused of inflicting a body blow to the concept of a decent community.
The former governor allegedly grasped Amechi Awkunanaw to the juggler insisting on foisting a new traditional ruler amidst speculations that he had earlier installed a parallel President General which slashed the community into two divide. The traditional and social fabrics of the community torn with an unmistakably authoritarian streak in attempt to make abnormal become the new normal.
But rising from a crucial meeting on Saturday, concerned people of the community who claimed that Nwobodo hails from Amechi Uno not Amechi Awkunanaw sent out Save Our Soul (SOS) to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to prevail on Jim Nwobodo to retrace his footsteps to avert anarchy.
In a memo from the people of Amechi Awkunanaw Community titled: “A Call for Redemption of Amechi Awkunanaw Community”, they accused Sen. Nwobodo of instigating Former Governor Ugwuanyi to suspend the community’s Traditional Ruler, Igwe Anthony Ogbodo Okorie in 2021 without due process and now has launched nefarious campaign to install a new monarch against the will of the people but “meant to incite violence and intimidate the community.”
The SOS which was signed by all the heads of kindred/families in Amechi Awkunanaw and the community leader reads:
“We the concerned citizens and good people of Amechi Awkunanaw Community do hereby appeal to eminent personalities of Enugu State to come to our rescue as our community has been besieged by Sen. Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo boasting that he will get an approval from the Governor of Enugu State, H.E. Peter Mbah to remove our Traditional Ruler, Igwe Anthony Ogbodo Okorie in a few months for refusing to sign a Forged land instrument for him on a community land dedicated for industrial development and job creation.
“In 2021, upon Igwe’s refusal to sign a falsified land instrument against the interest of the community, Sen. Nwobodo became so infuriated that he got the former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a very close friend of his to suspend the traditional ruler disregarding any due process. The Igwe went to Court to challenge his suspension and the matter is still pending in Enugu High Court.
“It will be noted that the vast expanse of land which Sen. Jim Nwobodo wanted our Igwe to sign off to him is a communal land owned by the generality of Amechi Awkunanaw Community (Umu Ngene Ike people). The land was a disputed land between Amagu Ibite (present Amagu Akegbe Ugwu) and Umu Ngene Ike (present Amechi Awkunanaw Community) which was won by Amechi in the Supreme Court in 1972.
“The land matter is presently in Enugu High Court between Amechi Awkunanaw Community v Sen. Jim Nwobodo. Sen. Nwobodo in desperation had presented a Gift of Land document bearing names of dead and alleged signatories of dead community leaders alleging ownership of the land. We also discovered that he had also filed another document, an Irrevocable Power of Attorney with the Ministry of lands, Enugu State alleging he got the same land from his late father follows:
- An alleged GIFT OF LAND Document by Amagu Ugwu People to His Excellency Chief Jim Nwobodo, Governor of Amambra State dated 1981. See Annexure “A”
‘The signatories on the alleged Gift of Land are of dead former leaders of the community are different from the true signatures of the named persons on the title. The documents bearing true signatures of Chief Stephen Nnamani and Chief Julius Aniagu named on the alleged Gift of Land are attached for clarification. Annexure ‘C’
- An alleged IRREVOCABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY on the same land in favour of Sen. Jim Nwobodo by his father, Peter Nwobodo dated 17th May, 2006 was also paraded by Sen. Nwobodo at different times as evidence of ownership. See Annexure “B”
It is a fact that Sen. Nwobodo’s late father (Peter Nwobodo) died in the 60s and could not have signed any Power of Attorney in favour of Sen. Nwobodo in 2006. In addition, his father never owned any part of the land in question. The principle of Nemo dat quod non habet is that one cannot give what he has not.
LATEST CAMPAIGN BY SEN. NWOBODO TO REMOVE IGWE AND INSTALL A PUPPET IS MEANT TO INCITE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATE THE COMMUNITY
“Igwe Okorie has been the traditional ruler of Amechi Awkunanaw for more than two decades and even as his suspension is being challenged in the Court of competent jurisdiction, his influence has not weaned a bit. During the last festive period, he was always received with royal welcome whenever he attends a function. This unwavering loyalty by the majority of indigens of Amechi Awkunanaw to the Igwe irked Jim Nwobodo the more that he boasted that he will cause the present Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah to remove Igwe A.O. Okorie as Ohachirieze II of Amechi Awkunanaw, using the same strategy the former Governor applied in the suspension.
To actualize this, he (Sen. Nwobodo) using an unknown organ of Amechi Awkunanaw Community’s Constitution, on 27th December, 2023, caused the issuance of notice for purchase of form for the contest of Igweship position in Amechi Awkunanaw last December. The process is still on, although, clandestinely.
OUR APPEAL TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ENUGU STATE
“On this note, we are appealing to the good people of Enugu State to assist the Community in reaching out to the Governor of Enugu State, H.E. Dr. Peter Mbah to lift the suspension and reinstate the suspended Igwe to his rightful throne.
“It’s on record that other suspended traditional rulers of Akwuke and Akwuke Uwani by the former Governor Ugwuanyi have all been restored to their throne in 2023.
“The good people of Amechi Awkunanaw Community will be highly indebted to any Good Samaritan who abhors injustice to helping the community restore our traditional Ruler HRH Igwe A.O. Okorie (Ohachirieze II of Amechi Awkunanaw).
“Above all, to help us appeal to our God fearing Governor, H.E. Dr. Peter Mbah to peacefully allow the court of competent jurisdiction to determine the title ownership of the said land and avoid the use of government machinery in intimidating/harassing and inciting conflict in our community like his predecessor.
Long live men of courage who abhors injustice!
Long live men of honour who fights injustice!!
Long live the government of Enugu State!!!
Signed:
- Ogenyi Charles Anikwe – Umunkwuoani Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Dennis Nkwuo – Umunechi Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Dennis Osondu Ani – Umuosiomede Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Emma Chukwu – Umugwuaniede Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Friday Ani – Umuadani Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Friday Okoh – Umunshiachi Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Joshua Ugwuegbo – Umugwunta Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Israel Nwobodo – Umunveneankwuo Ogenyi
- Ogenyi Romanus Edeh – Umugwuani Ogenyi Feti
- Ogenyi Sir Cyprain Chukwu – Umuaniebo Ogenyi
- Friday Obanego – Umuegboankwuo Chairman
- Comrade Ozoemena Aninwonovo – Umuaniagu Achime VP (ADU)
- Comrade Amaechi Nkwuo – Umunveneankwuo Youth Chairman
- Chief Peter Nwobodo – Umuegboankwuo Palace Secretary
- Dan Onyia – Umunshiachi Sec (ADU)
- Samuel Edeh – Umuogo BOT
- Emma Nwachukwu – Umuaniaguewoene
- Ikechukwu Philip Onuchukwu – Umugwuani ADU (Exc)
- Hon. Jonathan Ugwu, – Former Councilor, Enugu South LGA, Community Leader
- Sunday Ugwuegbo – Ndiugwunta ADU (Exc)
- Chijioke Nnamani – Umuaniaguewoene Community Leader
- Laz Ogbodo Umuaniaguewoene – Community Leader
- Raphael Okenwa – Legal Practitioner
- Chief Hyacinth Ngwu – General Manager, FAAN Nigeria and BOT Amechi Awkunanaw Community.
- Chief James Ezeke Ogbodo – Retired Director of Administration
- Sunday Okoh (Champion) – Community leader and an Entrepreneur.
By Chidi-Peters Okorie