Group Petitions Imo Assembly Over Monarch’s Activities

The Oguta Community Development Union (OCDU) has petitioned the Imo State House of Assembly over what it described as the “over bearing activities of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Nnam Nzeribe.

OCDU President, Ndubuoko Okoronkwo told newsmen recently in Oguta that the traditional ruler had been fanning disunity in the union.

Okoronkwo also called on Gov. Ikedi Ohakim to call Nzeribe to order, adding,  “the 1gwe has abandoned his traditional responsibility to interfere in the administration of the OCDU

“This is in violation of the provisions of the traditional rulers and autonomous communities law No 6 of 2006.

“By the OCDU Constitution, the monarch should be playing an advisory role in the town union rather than dabbling into its politics,” Okoronkwo said.

The OCDU President said that the union had in line with its responsibility signed an MoU with Agip Oil Company, operating in the community and the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and the Environment in Imo, regarding the proposed 10 per cent oil revenue as contained in the recently passed Local Content Act.

He said that the Igwe sought to “short circuit” the town union by setting up a steering committee of Oguta Summit which in all facets, represented a parallel body to the OCDU Council with the same functions and mandate.

“After the MoU, the Igwe conspired with the transition Chairman of the Oguta Local Government Council to write a letter to the union’s Exco, postponing the election indefinitely.

“Ostensibly on grounds of insecurity when there was nb security threat only to announce later that he had dissolved the OCDU Exco and set up a 10-man caretaker committee,” he stated.

An Imo High Court in a suit HOG/17/2009 presided over hy Justice P.C. Ikpeama on February 22, disbanded the Igwe’s caretaker committee and asked the OCDU to hold its election.

Attempts to get Nzeribe to react to the matter failed as his palace secretary, who gave his name as Frank ljeoma, told newsmen that the Igwe just came back from an outing and could not be reached.