Date Published: 09/09/11

Abia Council Boss beat up Monarchs

Barely two weeks after the Transition Committee Chairman of Aba North local council of Abia state, Chief David Chigbu slapped his Treasurer, Mr. Geoffrey Okezie, his counterpart, it seems that being a wrestler, is a qualification for emerging a Transition Committee Chairman in Abia state.

 The Transition Committee Chairman of Osisioma Ngwa local council, Mr. Ugochukwu Nwachukwu,had few days ago, beaten up two monarchs and their Personal Assistants over what he described as interference in the administration of his council.

Sources revealed that the council boss had invited the Traditional ruler of Amavor Nkwogu Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty King Emmanuel I. Chiavoghilefu, who is also the Chairman of Osisioma Ngwa Council of Traditional rulers, to his Umunwankwo road residence over some matters affecting the council.

The Monarch reportedly expressed reservation at the invitation on the grounds he has had a frosty relationship with Nwachukwu. The foremost traditional ruler was said to have contacted Chief Sunny Aku, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain in the area, who advised him to honour the invitation.

On the appointed day, King Chiavoghilefu took along his Personal Assistant, Mr. Innocent Anucha and some members of the Osisioma Ngwa Traditional Rulers Council, including the Traditional ruler of Amator  Ancient Kingdom, HRM Eze Gadson O. Akwarandu, to the residence of the Nwachukwus, a renowned political family in the area whose patriarch , Chief Allen Nwachukwu,is the Deputy Chairman of the PDP in Abia state.

At the residence, the Transition Chairman reportedly expressed anger at a question raised by the Monarch on the administration of the local council, the issue of the payment of allowances to members of the traditional rulers’ council and the poor state of roads in the area, particularly in the Osisioma Ngwa North state Constituency, where King Chiavoghilefu comes from.

Mr. Nwachukwu, who is in his early 30s, pounced on the two monarchs for daring to question him on the management of allocations to the council since he assumed office. Nwachukwu’s wrath was also visited on King Chiavoghilefu’s PA, Anucha and an unnamed son of Chief Benjamin Apugo, who tried to restrain him from attacking the monarchs.

Investigations revealed that King Chiavoghilefu, who is described as a ‘no- nonsense person’ has been at daggers drawn with the Transition chairman over irregular payment of allowances to the natural rulers and his alleged poor performance since he assumed office a year ago.

Sources further revealed that the Transition Chairman in recent times , has had series of running battles with many individuals and groups over the poor state of infrastructure in the area. It was also alleged that he threatened to deal with anybody who stand in his way.

On 1 st September, 2011, the Transition Committee signed an announcement on the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia state Radio, 88.1FM, dissolving the Osisioma Ngwa Youth Congress and appointed a Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the group.

The move has been stoutly resisted by the group. In a resolution addressed to the Transition Committee Chairman, signed by the Board of Trustees, Directors and Executives of the Youth Congress, copied to security agencies in the state and the two Members representing Osisioma Ngwa North and South state constituencies in the Abia state House of Assembly and made available to news men in Aba, the group said it views the conduct and action o the Transition Chairman as an act capable of, or likely to cause a breach of peace in the council and condemned same in its entirety, calling on the general public to disregard it.

“The Osisioma Ngwa Youth Congress is a non governmental organization duly incorporated under the Corporate and Allied Matters Act. It operates within its constitution which governs her operations and has remained a peaceful organization without constituting nuisance to the society. The Transition Committee chairman has no powers to dissolve it. The announcement was done in total ignorance of the law. We demand a written apology to the Youth Congress and an announcement made through the same BCA Radio , retracting the earlier announcement purporting to have dissolved the Osisioma Ngwa Youth Congress, within 7 days, failing which the Youth Congress shall not hesitate to commence legal actions against the Transition Chairman” the resolution read in part.

The resolution further stated that the only leadership known to the Board of Trustees and Directors of the Osisioma Ngwa Youth Congress is the Obinna Nwachukwu led Executive Committee.

Sources hinted that the Youth Congress had a disagreement with the Council boss over his alleged poor performance since he assumed office. The Executives of the Youth Congress was said to have met him over the state of infrastructure in the area and his inability to construct the new Osisioma Ngwa Motor Park which the Youth Congress Chairman, Mr. Obinna Nwachukwu, alleged that the government appropriated N15 million for, and yet, no structure has been built till date.

According to  Nwachukwu (Obinna) ,“We have made several efforts to call him to order but he has refused to heed our advice. We are yet to see what he has done with the huge allocations to the council since the one year period he has been in office. He has been quarrelling with anyone who dares to inquire about the bad situation of things in the council.

“He sees the Youth Congress as a threat but we have refused to be intimidated. He sent his thugs to our secretariat at 263 Aba Owerri road, Aba to ransack the place, they took away the computers we use for training of our Youths. On the day we made this resolution, he also sent Policemen to harass us.” the Youth Chairman said

Pointblanknews.com gathered that the Transition Chairman, whose father , Allen , is also a former council chairman, intends to run for the office of the Executive Chairman of the council whenever the Abia local council polls take place.

“He has discovered that the Youth Congress and some eminent citizens of the council, including traditional rulers may not support his ambition to retain his seat. This is why he is fighting everybody and made the purported announcement to dissolve the Executives of the Congress” a source who pleaded anonymity hinted.

Another source also revealed that the Youth Congress, which is a pressure group has been under attack by some past administrations.” This is what we also suffered during the tenure of his father, Allen, when tricked our our former chairman, Mr. Godswill Nwaonoruo, to the same residence and beat him up” the source added.

Pointblanknews.com also gathered that the Youth Congress occupies an enviable position in the politics of the local council. It is said that whoever she supports in any contest, emerges winner.The caliber of personalities that constitute its Board of Trustees and Direction, attests to its prominence. The list is endless; former Abia Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Nnamdi Amala ,  Engr. Solomon Adaelu, ex -Youth Development Commissioner, Barr. Ekene Nwaohanmuo, Prof. Chinedum Adiele, ex -Council Boss, Chief Christian Kamalu, Prince Udo Alozie , Barr. I. Nwabughiogu and other legal practitioners from the council.

In his reaction, the Transition Chairman denied beating the monarchs or any other person, but described the Youth Congress as a group of extortionist. “The Youth Congress is a misguided group, they go about extorting money ranging from N 250,000 as development levies from people. I cannot tolerate this in my Council” he said.