SELF-ACCLAIMED CHIEFS IN AMANKWO

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.

Amankwo Oghe Town Union meeting of 3rd February 2013

Amankwo Oghe Town Union meeting of 3rd February 2013 The meeting started at about 3.00pm with an opening prayer said by Mr. Innocent Okechukwu. The secretary Engr. Silas Anonde, read the past January minutes. Amendments The education committee was grouped into two Mr. Kenneth Aliozor and the Vice President Mr. Innocent Okechukwu were for Amankwo Imezi Primary School while another two persons Mr. Sam Ikwezeagu and Mr. Elobuike were for Amankwo Ndiagu. After the correction, motion for adoption of the minutes was moved by Mr. Innocent Okechukwu seconded by Mr. Ozonechi Christopher. The President General was not present. The Vice President Mr. Innocent Okechukwu thanked the people for coming especially one our brothers from Lagos, Mr. Marcus Ozoagu who joined us in the meeting. Report from Education committee. Mr. Innocent Okechwkwu reported that they met with the Head Master of C.P.C Amankwo Imezi and discussed with him. The HM received them and narrated their problems including (1) that they need more teachers (2) the parents withdraw their children from the school (3) they need recreational facilities and fund (4) Incentives for teachers and students. He added that they are expecting desks from the state government and the school has no money to bring them home if it eventually becomes a reality. The group in charge of Amankwo Ndiagu was not present to give us situation report from the school there. Water borehole. The Vice President Mr. Innocent Okechukwu said that the executives have been making frantic efforts to meet with the relevant authorities to ensure that the community drinks water from the borehole at Amankwo Imezi Primary School soon. It is seen that the contractors have come back to continue the work. The overhead tank is almost completed. Road project Mr. Augustise Ogbu reported that the contractors handling road construction have not fulfilled the promises they made towards compensations on the boro pit they dug on the Umuodinije farm land. He said it was only the Vice President that came to see them and they allowed the contractors because of the respect they have for the town union and the entire community. He said he came to represent their people to express their annoyance over the neglect on them by the contractor. The Vice President, Mr. Innocent Okechwkwu, explained that the intention of the Town Union was for everybody to benefit from the contract and not to wrong anybody. He said it was very unfortunate that the Engineer and the contractor handling the work are not trust worthy. He explained to Mr. Ogbu the effort the Town Union has made to ensure that something was done to them but the Engineer kept giving excuses that his boss was not around. Mr. Augustine Ogbu was advised to still exercise patience since the job is not yet finished. Mr. Augustine said he wants to be given a time limit because he has been waiting for a very long time. It was decided we refer the matter to the President General. Constitution Review committee report The secretary Engr. Silas Anonde reported how the committee met last Sunday and explained that the unfortunate thing was that Hon. Geoffrey Ozor and Nicodemus Aniekwuilo has formed another faction and has refused to be part of the review that meets on Sunday, which is more convenient for most members. He said that the Town union has noted the rumor going round the Town that Geoffrey Ozor and his group with the support of H.R.H Igwe C.C Obuke has dissolved the Town and rename the Constitution Review Committee the Interim Government to be headed by Geoffrey Ozor. He said the Town Union will react appropriately to the matter and told members that the plan of Igwe and Geoffrey Ozor and his group to dissolve the town Union has no basis and therefore will not work. The secretary said that the committee will continue their work irrespective of the obstacles. Mr. John Onwuama reported on how the other faction met on sat 26th January 2013. However Mr. John was not specific on the reports he was making as he says one thing and at the same time denies his statement. Motion for adjournment was moved by John Onwuama seconded by Mr. Peter Madu. Closing prayer was said by our Visitor Mr. Marcus Onwuama. The meeting was adjourned at about 500pm.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF JAN 1 2013

AMAANKWO OGHE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING HELD ON 1ST JANUARY 2013 AT AMANKWO NDIAGU PRIMARY SCHOOL The meeting started at about 2.30pm with an opening prayer said by Chief Bonny Ozor (Onwa of Amankwo Oghe). The President General, Bonny Nwabueze Chijioke, in his opening remarks thanked everybody present for their continued struggle to forge ahead despite all the hassles. He noted that HRH Igwe C.C.Obueke has earlier informed us at the inception of his administration that the nature of our people is that the number that turned out for a purpose at the initial time will continue to decline as the time goes on. The minutes of the last General Assembly meeting of January 2012 was read by the secretary. Also the minutes of the Town Union meeting of December 2012 was read. Motion for adoption of the last General Assembly meeting was moved by Mr. Eva Ogwu seconded by Mr. Lawrence Offor. That of December 2012 was moved by Mr. Sam Ikwuezeagu also seconded by Mr. Lawrence Offor. It was realized from the minutes of the last General Assembly meeting that most of the issues discussed was not done like the revitalization of the public schools in the community to curb the dwindling number of pupils enrolment in the schools. However report from Amankwo Ndiagu was that new teachers were posted to the public school there. After deliberation on the way forward it was ruled that education committee be formed immediately to make necessary inquiry on what is required to move the schools forward. Members of the committee are: 1. The Vice President General, Mr. Innocent Okechukwu, 2. Mr. Elobuike, 3. Mr. Kennethy Aliozor 4. Mr. Samuel Ikwuezeagu. They are to report back to the house on their findings by next meeting. Road Project The P.G explained that the road project was attracted by the Deputy Senate President Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and that it was supposed to be asphalted if money is released in the 2013 budget for the project and that he is working hard to ensure it is so. Mr. Innocent Okechwkwu said that he is not happy over the narrowing of the road at Afor Oghe entrance. In response to that the P.G said that it is still inconclusive whether the contractor will expand it more. It will be noted that the Town Union has directed the contractor handling the project to use the dimensions given to them irrespective of whose property it may be affected. The contractor said he is waiting for the Imo River Basin to direct them on what to do on that effect. Water project Another borehole has been drilled at Amnkwo Imezi by the State Government to replace the one that was blocked by the bad spirited individuals in the community. However, Government insisted that the community should pay for the casing of the borehole, which is about Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N380, 000). The Town Union has pleaded with the Government not to wait for the money before completing the project, as the money cannot be raised immediately. Mr. Eva Ogwu suggested we approach the women of Amankwo Imezi to know if they can assist to raise the money being demanded by the Government. His suggestion was based on the fact that the women group sometime in 2009, during the leadership of late Mrs. Ngozi Ozagu, wanted to invest in the borehole project before the state Government began the project. It was agreed that we should officially communicate the women group, first of all congratulating the new leaders for their successful election and pledging to give them our full support and then discuss the issue of the bore hole to know if the have fund to assist. Mr. Innocent Okechukwu was asked to approach the women leaders on the issue. Still on water project, The Vice President, Mr. Innocent Okechukwu wanted to know why the site for the borehole at Amankwo Ndiagu was moved to another location. It was realized that the former site was in dispute and that the matter is already in court. So it is better to move to a free site to avoid the project being hindered by a possible court injunction. Electricity. The P.G said he has deployed a contractor to cost what it will take for the electrification of the remaining part of the community that has no light as was directed by the Local Government Chairman during his earlier discussion on the subject matter. He said the cost will be presented to the Local Government Chairman with an appeal for his assistant to give us light. The Igwe in council It was noted that before the present executives took over the Igwe and his cabinet were not having meeting together due to some problems between H.R.H and some of his cabinet members. It was the effort of this Town Union that reconciled them and ensures that they all meet at the palace house The Town after their first meeting in 2012 decided that there is need to install more chiefs as some wards are no longer being represented in the cabinet due to death of their chiefs. When our decision was communicated to Igwe for his approval and the way to go about it. H.R.H told us that he cannot do that, he said he will hand pick anybody or people he wants anytime he likes and make them chiefs. H.R.H actually manifested his desire when he hand picked Sir. Johnson Oguanya and Mr. Kelvin Anigbo for chieftaincy installation, without the knowledge of his cabinet members and the Town Union. This arrangement was not acceptable to the Town Union and the cabinet chiefs as it was not in line with the provisions of the constitution of Amankwo Oghe. The Town Union reacted by writing HRH demanding that he reverse his decision on the installations. HRH to ensure that he installed the two persons as chiefs went to obtain an ex-parte injunction restricting The Secretary Engr. Silas Anonmde and the Vice President, Mr. Innocent Okechukwu from doing anything further to stop him from carrying out his proposed installation program. The Town Union further petitioned the commissioner for chieftaincy matters, who then summoned a meeting between the Igwe and the stake holders, the town union and the cabinet chiefs. After hearing the wish of the community on the matter the commissioner ordered Igwe to cancel his proposed installation, since he is not carrying his people along. It was noted that the court case between Igwe and the two executive members will come up on 17th January 2013. and that about 40,000 naira will be required to settle the lawyer for the last appearance and the fort coming appearance. The case is expected to be struck out on that day as ordered by the commissioner that HRH should withdraw the matter. Invitation The P.D.P Ward chairman is inviting us to attend the closing year party being organized by the PDP ward leader Hon. Obrien Ofordu at his resident in Akama. Some Town Union members who are PDP members complained to the ward chairman that that they do not have PDP membership cards. The chairman, Mr. Samuel Ikwezeagu, collected their names and promised to make their cards available. Motion for adjournment was moved by Eva Ogwu seconded by Lawrence Ofor. The meeting was adjourned by 4.30pm closing prayer was said by Lawrence Offor.