By Adeleye Kunle
ENUGU—The Concerned People of Oruku, based in Enugu State’s Nkanu East Local Government Area, has urged the state government to reject the purported selection of a traditional ruler for the community.
It also stated that none of the 14 families that comprised the Oruku community were ever notified of the selection of a traditional ruler for the community.
In a letter to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the community’s spokesman, Mr. Precious Nwankwor, said one Mr. Gerald Ejike Ani is being paraded as the community’s Igwe-elect, and urged the public to ignore him.
“The attention of some concerned indigenes of Oruku community, in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous and disgruntled elements of the community who are busy parading one Mr. Gerald Ejike Ani as the selected or nominated candidate for the position of Igwe of our community, thereby deceiving the public and government of Enugu State,” the statement reads.
“As a result, we want to state unequivocally that no notice of any selection or election of any candidate for the position of Igwe was ever given to any person before any purported kangaroo selection was ever circulated.” None of the 14 families that comprised the Oruku community were ever notified, either verbally or in writing, of any purported selection or election of anyone for the so-called position of Igwe of the community. Similarly, prior to the so-called selection, no branch of the Oruku town union was ever put on notice.
“The elders of Oruku community, who are not only the custodians of our culture and tradition, but also the face of our societal conscience, were never made aware of any selection or election of any candidate for the position of Igwe for our community, and no radio announcement was made to notify our community and the general public about any program of selecting an Igwe for our community.”
“It is also important to inform the public that the Oruku community is still nursing the wounds inflicted on her by the nefarious activities of a dangerous gang known as Neighborhood Watch, which has cut off the only access road linking our community and other communities from motorists, making life difficult and unbearable for our people.”
“This incident, which later snowballed into uncontrollable mayhem in our community, even resulted in the formation of a panel of enquiry by the government of Enugu State, which panel indicted some people and barred them from running for the post of Igwe for a number of years.”
“We also want to use this medium to inform the general public that none of the people whose houses were burned have been resettled, while many indigenous people in our community are still detained in prison as a result of the civil unrest in our community.”
“In light of the foregoing, we urge the good people of Oruku community, the Enugu state government, and the general public to reject any alleged nomination or selection of Gerald Ejike Ani or any other person for the position of Igwe of Oruku community.”
As of press time, calls to Ani’s cellphone were unsuccessful.
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