A rebel Group lead by Hon. Geoffrey Ozor was neutralized by the Town Union

THE MEETING WITH THE STATE COMMISSIONER FOR CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS

On August 30th 2010, the Amankwo Oghe Town Union and groups of individuals in Amankwo Ndiagu had a meeting with the Honourable commissioner for Chieftaincy affairs Enugu state, Mr. Jacob Ude, in his office at Enugu. At the meeting, a rebel group in Amankwo Ndiagu, lead by Hon Geoffrey Ozor, was finally quashed by the commissioner and the issue of creating Amankwo Ndiagu Autonomous Community was discussed.

Recall that on 25th July 2010 the Town Union had an emergency meeting to settle the crises in Amankwo Ndiagu. Unknown to the town union was that the age long crises in Amankwo Ndiagu were being ignited by a rebel leader Hon. Geoffrey Ozor popularly known as Ochiagha.

Hon. Geoffrey Ozor has formed a mutinous group in Amankwo Ndiagu, who is opposed to the legitimate government in the community. He has his own town union with president general as Pastor Clifford Ogbuchi; he has his own cabinet chiefs, probably he is their Igwe. The following were his members that came to the commissioner’s office at Enugu. 1. Hon. Geoffrey Ozor (Ochiagha), rebel leader 2. Pastor Clifford Ogbuchi, president general 3. Chief Godwin Onuoha 4.Chief Felix Obueze, 5. Chief Anthony Ejim 6. Chief Desmond Odezulu 7. chief Joseph Ogbuchi 8. Mr. Tobias Ikwezeagu 9. Mr. Oliver Obueze 10. Mr. Joe Ibe 11 Mr. Peter Ogbuhi 12. Mr. Tobias Odezulu
Hon. Geoffrey Ozor was feeding his men with lies, telling them that Amankwo Ndiagu is an autonomous community wit their on town union, which has been duly registered since 2002 and that he has the certificate. He was able to convince or confuse his illiterate followers not to take part in any activities of the Amankwo Oghe Community. This has been the reason why some wards in Amankwo Ndiagu refuse to send representatives to the town union and some of their chiefs no longer attend the Igwe’s cabinet meetings.

However, with the gallant effort of the town union, to ensure lasting peace in Amankwo Ndiagu, this case was taken to the state commissioner for chieftaincy affairs, where Hon. Geoffrey Ozor and his rebellious group were duly informed by the commissioner himself that Amankwo Oghe is still one community and that there was nothing like Amankwo Ndiagu autonomous community or town union.

The commissioner said he noted the unalloyed request by both the town union and the Amankwo Ndiagu people for an autonomous community and promised that the government will do that at the appropriate time.


At the commissioner’s office, the town union president, Nwabueze Chijioke introduced his people to the commissioner. He thanked the commissioner for having invited us to ratify issues relating to the carving out Amankwo Ndiagu as an autonomous community from the present Amankwo Oghe Community. Two different groups made separate applications for the purpose. Hon. Geoffrey Ozor group and Ozor Innocent Okafor group. The two groups and the Amankwo Oghe town union executives including the hon. Councilor Festus Magbo were present at the commissioner’s office. His office was completely filled up with people.

Hon. Geoffrey Ozor told the commissioner that he formed his own town union in Amankwo Ndiagu because they were being marginalized in the sharing of positions and developmental projects that comes to the community. He sited the electricity, the water borehole, the primary school hall, and the councilors both the past and present councilors, all have been Amankwo Imezi. He said that no project or position has come to Amankwo Ndiagu for many years. Hon. Geoffrey Ozor further said he did not recognize Nwabueze Chijioke as the Amankwo Oghe Town Union President, as he was not aware of the election that produced him. He said that Amankwo Imezi was just using him.
The Hon. Councilor Festus Magbo told the commissioner that Mr. Nwabueze Chijioke was duly elected as the Town Union President of Amankwo Oghe on 28th December 2009. He said that Nwabueze and his town union members have been doing a marvelous job for the community since then. They have the support of all the stake holders including the Igwe, the Local and state government. Regarding Hon. Geoffrey Ozor’s claim of marginalization, he was made to realize that the Primary School hall and electricity in Amankwo Imezi was made possible by an individual, which he knew. He was also made to realize that he, Hon. Geoffrey Ozor, was a one time Supervisory Councilor and that he did nothing to his people, yet he claimed that no position was ever held by his people. He told Geoffrey Ozor that it was because of his stubbornness that the local government chairman is finding it difficult to site projects at Amankwo Ndiagu. Currently the government is rebuilding a primary school hall in Amankwo Ndiagu yet Geoffrey Ozor did not see that Hon. Festus Magbo said we need Amankwo Ndiagu autonomous community

Ozor Innocent Okafor told Hon. Geoffrey Ozor that he has been behind all the troubles in Amankwo Ndiagu. That it pains him that Geoffrey Ozor is sabotaging the effort of the present town union to bring unity and development to the community because of his selfish ambition. That Geoffrey Ozor has been causing disunity among the people of Amankwo Ndiagu and among the chiefs in the Igwe’s cabinet. He told the commissioner that they are here to know if it is true that Hon. Geoffrey Ozor has been given his own autonomous community and his own town Union. He said we need Amankwo Ndiagu autonomous community.

Engr. Ejike Anigbo said that he has been hearing the name of Geoffrey Ozor far away in the United States America where he lived. He recalled how he and Mr. John Nzekwe paid him a courtesy visit when they came back from America and invited Hon. Geoffrey Ozor to come to his place so that they can help to settle some of his grievances but he refused. Engr. Anigbo said since he finally came back to live in Nigeria and to his home state Enugu that he has participated in some peace making meetings in Amankwo Oghe and he has seen Hon. Geoffrey Ozor as a trouble maker. He reminded Geoffrey of how he Geoffrey told him that they carry people on the head and asked commissioner if such a person of Geoffrey is a good fellow. Engr. Anigbo told the commissioner that Hon. Geoffrey Ozor has committed treason by forming a parallel government challenging the constituted authority in the community. He reminded the commissioner that it was such a similar offence that the late Awolowo committed in the sixties the lead to his imprisonment. He pleaded with the commissioner to use his good office to invite the law enforcement agent to round up the rebels and their leader for prosecution at the court of law. He agreed that we need Amankwo Ndiagu autonomous community
Many people were given opportunity to air their views and all said we need Amankwo Ndiagu autonomous community

The Hon. Commissioner after hearing from both the town union and the factions of Amankwo Ndiagu stated as follows:

1. That Amankwo Oghe is known as a community with the town union president as Nwabueze Chijioke.
2. That Amankwo Ndiagu Community does not exist.
3. That there is no Amankwo Ndiagu Town Union
4. That he has not for our request for Amankwo Ndiagu autonomous community and that it will be created when the government approves it. He added that it is not in his power to approve.
The town union president Nwabueze Chijioke thanked him for his patient and how he handled the matter.