The Oba Traditional Council known as Ezeokpoko Oba Cabinet and the entire community, in Idemili South Council of Anambra State, have rejected the imposition of caretaker leadership for the office of President General of Oba Patriotic Union (OPU), insisting that they will follow community’s constitutional guidelines to elect who occupies the seat.

The Regent of Oba Community, Prince Noel Ezenwa, had alleged that some aggrieved aspirants, who failed in the contest for seat of the traditional ruler of Oba, Ezeokpoko II of Oba, went and deceived the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs that there is crisis in OPU.

Ezenwa said: “Following alleged deceptive information, the ministry scheduled an election for new executives of OPU on December 31, 2022, but the President General of OPU, Rev. Chris Emelie, whose tenure expired this April, secured a court injunction restraining the government from unseating him when his tenure is still running.

“More so, the community had, through the guidelines of its constitution, fixed April 11 as the day for election of new President General to replace Emelie.

“The aggrieved aspirants further allegedly influenced the appointment of a 10-man interim town union government for OPU, Idemili South Council, with Sir Osita Ubadi as its Chairman.”

Addressing journalists, yesterday, after Ezeokpoko Oba Cabinet meeting, Ezenwa disclosed that five members of the interim town union government have rejected their appointment, saying that they cannot be part of selfish plot to encourage hatred and plant crisis in Oba.

While rejecting the appointment, Ezenwa, together with over 30 members of the cabinet, described the development as an aberration and something that has never happened in the history of Oba, insisting that they must abide by dictates of OPU’s constitution.

He also recalled that in a reply to the letter by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, he had informed that the tenure of Emelie has not expired, and there is no leadership crisis that should warrant conducting election or any appointment to offices in OPU. (The Guardian)

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