The National Leadership of Mburubu Elders Forum in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state has condemned a statement credited to Chief Simon Aniobi Mbah and Mr Solomon Obinna Okafor over the Igweship tussle which has been under contention and the position of the law towards it.
Recall that a few days ago, there were statements credited to both the former and the latter, saying that a certain 2003 Town Union constitution of the community permits only Uhuegbe village to produce their next traditional ruler.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of Mburubu Elders Forum, แปzแป Sylvanus Njoku and sent to newsmen, he stated that anybody talking about the Igweship even after the intervention of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, through the Honorable commissioner for Local Government Affairs, rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, was purposely causing a crisis in the community and also against the administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
He stated that Chief Simon Aniobi and Mr Solomon Obinna Okafor erred by issuing statements with the aim of misleading the people and wondered why such could come from supposed noble men from Mburubu.
แปzแป Njoku posited that โthere is no known 2003 constitution of Mburubu to the state Government as regards the Igweship, hence, what has been gazetted is a 1976 community constitution which the state Government has made clear, that it is what they will use to settle the Igweship tussle.โ
According to him, โthe leadership of Mburubu Elders Forum grossly frowns at the news which went round the media space some days ago and were credited to 2 of our sons, Chief Simon Aniobi and Mr Solomon Obinna Okafor.
โSuch statement is not only misleading but highly incongruous as it was aimed at ridiculing the community and also misguiding the general public.
โThe State Government has made it clear that what they know is 1976 constitution of Mburubu community,vwhich was signed by some of our renowned fathers and leaders and gazetted with the Enugu State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Rural Development and Chieftaincy matters.
โThis constitution stated all the processes and procedures involved in the selection of an Igwe in Mburubu community and was what was used to nominate our late Igwe, His Royal Highness, Igwe Ogbuzuru Ezeh.
โWe then wonder why supposed renowned sons of our community would be so petty to mislead the public even after our last meeting with Enugu State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters.
โIt is an act that is tantamount to opposing the peaceful and progressive administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and we call on Chief Simon Aniobi and Mr Solomon Obinna Okafor to withdraw from doing so.โ
In another Development, the Enugu State commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Rural Development and Chieftaincy matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo has called on all warring factions in the community to sheathe their swords and allow the rule of the law to prevail.
Speaking during a stakeholdersโ meeting of all Mburubians, organised at the conference hall, Enugu State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Ogbodo stated that the State Government was not happy with what has bedeviled the community in recent times and was determined to put an end to the saga.
He stated that what the ministry has is 1976 constitution of the community signed by the late Igwe and the following Mburubu leaders as at then:
Chief SMO Njoku,
Chief S Okechukwu
Chief Joseph Igbudu
Chief Anthony O,
Chief VC Chukwudike
Chief E. O Nwankwo
Chief N. O Chukwu
Chief Innocent Njoku,
Chief E. A Aniobi,
Innocent Orji, among others.
Deacon Ogbodo also informed the community leaders that the said 2003 constitution could be that of the Town Union but not known to the state Government and thus, those making references to that should desist from using such to mislead and misinform the community members, especially, those vulnerable to wrong information, as it could cause unimaginable crisis in the community.
โThe state Government frowns at both the media and physical war that is about to degenerate into something else in your community over your Igweship position.
โAs we all know, this ministry is in charge of every matter concerning chieftaincy affairs and we are here to direct and guide all the communities on what is required for their progress.
โYour community has a 1976 constitution gazetted in the ministry which has answers to all the issues bothering all of you.
โThis constitution was signed by notable leaders of your community and was used to choose your late Igwe, Emmanuel Monyelu Ogbuzulu Ezeh and that is what the ministry would use to choose his replacement.
โAnybody that is ignorant of this should be guided properly to avoid the wrath of the law.
โThe constitution says the chieftaincy should be done on rotation basis and the choice of the entire community, which means, anybody that is qualified from your community and not from a particular village, can contest while the entire community make their choice.โ
Reports has it that the statement shocked many of the stakeholders who had acted in ignorance for long.
It was gathered that the community agreed to come back to the ministry at a date that would be fixed in April, 2024, to determine the modalities for choosing their next traditional ruler in line with the gazetted 1976 constitution of the community.
The reason for choosing April, according to reports, is because it would signal the end of a 2-year mourning period they agreed to use and pay their late Igwe his last respect before replacing him with another person.
