SITUATION REPORT

REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION OF AMANKWO OGHE TOWN It will be recalled that a five man constitution drafting committee was formed by the Amankwo Oghe Town Union in May 2010. The committee was mandated to produce a constitution that will be used as a working document in Amankwo Oghe Community. This committee was headed by Engr. Ejike Bonny Anigbo. Other members were Engr. Silas Anonde, Pastor Sylvester Ejike, Mr. Innocent Okechukwu, Mr. Christopher Madu. The committee resumed duty immediately. The first thing they did was to carry out extensive research by gathering the existing constitutions in Amankwo Oghe and constitution of other communities within their reach (Akama Oghe Constitution which was prepared by their dignitaries including renowned Barristers, lecturers, Justices and others was laid hand on). The committee also reached out to our brothers outside Enugu State, notably among them is the Lagos and Abuja branches. Also within the reach of the committee include the constitution of Amankwo Imezi Oghe Lagos branch. All these documents were used to package the draft constitution. When the draft was made, an emergency general meeting of all and sundry in the community was summoned for the reading of the draft on 2nd October 2010. The meeting was held at the Community Primary School Amankwo Imezi Oghe and was attended by more than 80 people H.R.H Igwe C.C Obueke was present at the meeting and he gave his support. At the meeting it was ruled that copies of the draft be made available to all the wards and braches of Amankwo Oghe, to enable them go through and make their contributions. Chief. Emeka Oga donated the sum of N8, 000 to make possible the photocopies. Copies were made and distributed to the wards through the cabinet chiefs. H.R.H Igwe C.C Obueke was given a copy and his cabinet was also given a copy. Electronic copies were sent to lagos and Abuja braches through e- mail. The draft was also published on the website of the town Union. Contributions were received from both individuals and braches. Amankwo Oghe community in Lagos formed a committee for the constitution and reviewed the entire draft. Abuja branch did same. An individual Capt. Barr. P.C. Ozoagu also reviewed the entire constitution. All these contributions were received by the committee. Other individuals including the Town Union President General, Mr. Nwabueze Bonny Chijioke, late Hon. Festus Magbo also made their contributions. Finally all these were harnessed to make the present constitution of Amankwo Oghe which was signed by all the 15 wards in Amankwo Oghe on 11th February 2011 and was registered in Ezeagu Local Government. WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE REVIEW? H.R.H Igwe C.C Obueke, contrary to the provisions of the constitution, made a move to install chieftaincy titles to two individuals in the community and the Town Union stopped him, requesting that he abides by the provisions of the community constitution. Since the constitution was signed and registered by Ezeagu L.G.A the Town Union has been basing it’s activities on the provisions of the constitution. However, H.R.H has been kicking back on the constitution. The most unfortunate thing about Igwe’s action is that he has refused to point out any section of the constitution as being in contradiction with his own ideas. He keeps saying that the Town Union is forcing him to obey the constitution they made for themselves. He told the commissioner for chieftaincy matters that the constitution was made by the town union as every regime of the town union makes a constitution that guides them and this one was one of such constitutions which will no longer be effective as soon as the regime steps down. The commissioner for chieftaincy matters in reaction to the Igwe’s motion and counter motion by the town Union ordered that we should go home and review the constitution so the H.R.H will sign it. It will be binding on him. RECENT ACTION BY H.R.H IWGE OBUEKLE TO DISSOLVE THE EXECUTIVES OF THE TOWN UNION On Saturday 26th January 2013, H.R.H inaugurated what he called the interim government of the town union/constitution review committee. He claimed that the tenure of the present executives of the town union has expired on the 28th of December 2013 and therefore stands dissolved. He made Hon Geoffrey Ozor the leader of the new government and Hon Aniekwilo Nicodemus the secretary. The Town Union in reaction to that, petitioned the commissioner for chieftaincy matters, who called a meeting between us and Igwe and told Iwge that he should not dissolve the town that we should go home and review the constitution as earlier ordered. It was at the meeting that Igwe was made to sign the letters written to the self acclaimed chiefs Sir Johnson Oguanya and Mr Kelvin Anigbo, as the Youths of Amankwo Oghe community insisted that H.R.H cannot leave the premises of the chieftaincy matter without signing the letters.