The protracted Igweship tussle in Akama-Oghe community in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State has continued continued unabated as one of the two contestants for the throne, Chief Christian Akpata, has urged Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to ignore what he called a fraudulent request to issue a certificate of recognition to another contestant, Onyeka Ofodile by some persons in the community.
Some persons acting as the leaders of town of the community had in newspaper publication, accused the Ugwuanyi’s government of unfairly treating the community over this matter.
They “appealed to Enugu State Government to issue Certificate of Recognition to Onyeka Ofodile to enable him begin to perform his functions in accordance with the Enugu State Chieftaincy Law”.
According to them, Ofodile was elected Traditional Ruler of the Community and the result of the election submitted to the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy by the Ezeagu Local Government Council since April 2019.
But, reacting in an interview with journalists, Chief Akpata, insisted he was the duly nominated candidate for the royal stool with all the necessary documents in accordance with the constitution of the community.
Akpata, who challenged his opponents to present any document with which they lay claims to the Igweship throne of the community before the court, where the matter is currently pending, advised them to stop seeking a short cut that would never help them.
He accused the persons of attempting to obtain the certificate of recognition through fraudulent means.
According to Akpata, “The same persons used the name of Christopher Nzekwe in their defense in court as the village chairman of Umuifi. Nzekwe is the one who signed all my documents after my nomination. But in the letters they wrote to Ezeagu LGA and the Ministry of chieftaincy affairs, changed the name of village chairman to John Egeshi in their attempt to deceive the state government. This is fraudulent.
“I want to call on the governor to make enquiry about the pending suit at Ezeagu High Court with suit No: A29/2018 between High Chief Dr Christian Akpata Igwe-elect Akam Oghe vs Celestine Ukwuani, town union president Akam Oghe and others. He will appreciate the matter more”.
He explained why he went to court. “After the death of our traditional ruler, the town union of Akama-Oghe community wrote to the chairman of Umuifi village, where I come from, to select a new traditional ruler for the town.
“I was eventually selected by the village, who wrote the town union and equally presented me as the new Igwe.
“They also signed the letter brought to them to that effect. But suddenly, they refused to present me before the local government after I refused to sign a document that I should henceforth not look into any past dealings over the community land.
“I went to court in November, 2018 to order them to present me to the local government and the state ministry of chieftaincy. But in April, they proposed to conduct another election which the state ministry of chieftaincy affairs did not participate and said they have elected Ofodile.
“The issue is, if there’s any document Ofodile has to lay claims to the Igwewhip throne, let him present it before the court so that the matter will be over instead of seeking a short cut that will never help him.
“They should stop disturbing the peace of Enugu State and our Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who would not indulge himself in injustice.
“So, all the documents that I am using to lay claims to the Igwewhip throne of Akama-Oghe community are in the courts and other government offices because I don’t have anything to hide. I know the community elected me as their choice”
Akpata said the people kicking against him were the oppressors of the poor in the community and vowed that they would not succeed “because we have a man of justice as governor of Enugu State”.
