…Threatens Arrest of Any Impostor
By Jude Atupulazi and Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Government of Anambra State through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, says that there is no election of traditional ruler in Oba, in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, warning that anyone caught parading himself as Igwe-Elect of the Community will be severely dealt with.
Addressing newsmen in his office domiciled inside the Government House, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon. TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, stated that the people of Oba had been asked to ensure that there was no pending case in any court before proceeding to conduct the traditional ruler’s election, stating that it was the prerogative of his office to monitor and supervise the entire process and make the needed recommendations to the Governor for the issuance of the certificate of recognition and return.
‘They have started doing something before we came. Along the line they said the existing process would no longer be followed; that they have a President General. Before then, three persons emerged from the previous exercise. The President General said they are now starting afresh.
‘The reason he gave for halting the initial arrangement was that one of the three candidates cannot speak fluently. I inquired about the position of their constitution on that, he said the constitution says anyone who can read and write can contest. I told him that is not enough reason to disqualify the man.
The matter was taken to court by a group who said the President General was playing out a card and that he annulled the previous process to pave way for his boss who is in overseas. They allegedly said that he was reserving the position for the man they said, gave him his first job in Shell. We, the government, pleaded with those three to participate in the new process. They listened to us and participated.
‘This time, they were four in number. That man they talked about eventually joined the race and contested. They told us that they have withdrawn all the cases and they were going ahead to conduct the election. While we are still discussing this, a lawyer walked in and said there was a case pending in court. I asked them and they said there was no such thing.
I communicated the Attorney General of the state who confirmed through our lawyers that there was an existing matter at the court. At this point we had to issue a circular asking them not to proceed with any election. You can see no one from my office attended. No security agent attended too.
We communicated them on the position of the government and the court. As far as we are concerned, no election took place anywhere and anyone caught parading himself will be arrested and detained,’ he concluded.
