Abuja, NIGERIA — A representative of the newly elected Igwe of Oba, Engr. Chiedu Emelobe, has dismissed as false claims that Governor Charles Soludo has threatened to arrest him. Cardinal Chukwujama, speaking on behalf of the Igwe-elect, strongly rejected the insinuations circulating in some media outlets, calling them a deliberate attempt by a group of disgruntled individuals to discredit the democratic process that led to Emelobe’s election as the traditional ruler of Oba town in Anambra State.
Chukwujama’s response comes in the wake of recent reports alleging that the Governor of Anambra State had issued a directive for the arrest of anyone parading as the Oba Igwe, including Emelobe. These claims surfaced following a statement from the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Tony Collins Nwabunwanne.
According to the statement, there was no legal election held for the selection of a new Igwe for Oba, and any actions taken by the community in this regard were deemed illegal and criminal. Additionally, the Commissioner mentioned that there is a pending court case concerning the matter, fueling further controversy.
However, Chukwujama has strongly refuted these claims, asserting that the election of Emelobe as the new Igwe was legitimate, transparent, and widely supported by key stakeholders in Oba. He explained that the reports currently circulating about the alleged arrest order are being propagated by a small faction of individuals who lost out in the election process and are now working to undermine the outcome.
The True Story Behind Emelobe’s Election
According to Chukwujama, the controversy surrounding the election of Emelobe stems from the actions of a group of five individuals who had been involved in the electoral process but rejected the results when their preferred candidate was defeated. He named the individuals as Prince Noel Ezenwa, Uche Ibeabuchi, Chief Samuel Odinammadu (Ikeora Oba), Barr. Vincent Chukwuma Ananti, and Prince Bambam Henry Ezenwa. These individuals, Chukwujama claimed, had worked against the interests of Oba and were now spreading falsehoods to delegitimize the election and the new Igwe-elect.
Chukwujama further explained the events that led to the election of Emelobe, emphasizing that the process had been fair and transparent. According to him, the candidate in question, Engr. Emelobe, had emerged as the winner after a series of primary elections and a subsequent screening process. He noted that one of the candidates, Chief Samuel Odinammadu, had lost in the primaries but continued to push for a different outcome. Despite this setback, the community remained committed to ensuring a free and fair election.
Chukwujama also mentioned that when legal challenges were raised by some of the losing parties, a court case was filed to resolve the issue. The case, he explained, dragged on for several months but eventually resulted in a favorable judgment for Emelobe, who had secured the necessary agreement from all parties involved. He went on to explain that even after the court ruling, certain factions, led by individuals like Prince Noel Ezenwa, continued to disrupt the process in a bid to frustrate the election of Emelobe.
The Election Process and Its Aftermath
Chukwujama elaborated on the steps that were taken to ensure a peaceful and transparent election. The election was originally scheduled for a Friday but was postponed to Saturday following advice from the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, who recommended the change to accommodate civil servants. On the day of the election, Chukwujama recounted that a large turnout of voters from Oba participated in the event, with the election conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. The Chiefs and Ichies (traditional leaders) of Oba town fully supported the election, with media outlets and security agencies present to ensure transparency.
Despite the smooth conduct of the election, reports began circulating that Governor Soludo and the Commissioner had canceled the election and ordered the arrest of the new Igwe-elect. These reports, according to Chukwujama, were part of an orchestrated campaign to discredit Emelobe’s victory. He expressed disappointment that certain individuals, such as Chief Ben Chibueze and his son Ebuka Chibueze, were also involved in spreading misinformation.
Chukwujama pointed out that the election was a landslide victory for Emelobe, who received 784 votes, while his closest rival, Ananti, garnered only 25 votes. This result, he argued, was a clear reflection of the will of the people of Oba, who had overwhelmingly chosen Emelobe as their new Igwe. He also made it clear that there were no credible challenges to the election result, as the process had been widely endorsed by all the major stakeholders in the community, including the Chiefs, Ichies, and influential figures such as Chief Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana).
Underlying Motivations Behind the Opposition
Chukwujama suggested that the opposition to Emelobe’s election stemmed from personal grudges and vested interests. One key issue, he claimed, was Emelobe’s decision to prevent certain individuals from selling land within the community, a move that had angered powerful figures who stood to benefit from such transactions. Additionally, Chukwujama pointed out that Emelobe had rejected an offer to allow one of the opposition leaders, Prince Ezenwa, to take over as the chairman of Oba Microfinance Bank. When Ezenwa was defeated in the bank’s board election, he reportedly asked Emelobe to step aside for him, but Emelobe refused.
The refusal to allow these individuals to continue holding sway over the community’s affairs, Chukwujama argued, was the root of the current opposition. He added that some of these individuals were seeking to perpetuate their control over the town by attempting to block Emelobe’s ascension to the throne, fearing that his leadership would end their influence.
Chukwujama concluded by affirming that the people of Oba had made their choice, and that Emelobe’s election as the new Igwe was legitimate and widely accepted. He rejected the false claims that Governor Soludo or the Commissioner for Local Government had canceled the election, stating that these reports were part of a broader campaign of misinformation aimed at undermining the democratic process. He called on the people of Oba and the authorities to support the new Igwe and allow him to lead the community towards progress and unity.
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