Hundreds of indigenes of Oraukwu in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday stormed the Government House, Awka carrying placards to protest the alleged imposition of one Emeka Onuorah as the traditional ruler of the town.

The protesters who were led by the President-General (PG) of the town, Chief Harold Mbanusi, alleged that they received information that the state government would give Onuorah, who is one of the contenders to the throne, a Certificate of Recognition today at the Governor’s Lodge.

Some of the placards displayed by the people read, ‘Anarchy looms in Oraukwu over Igweship’; ‘Money bags should not hijack Oraukwu traditional stool’; ‘Government should not hoist an unpopular person on Oraukwu’; ‘Oraukwu crisis can only end with recognition of Igwe Pius Okoye’ and ‘Igwe Oraukwu is not for sale’.

According to Mbanusi, Dr. Emeka Onuorah had the least score at the election conducted for the three contestants to the throne in December last year.

He reeled out the result of the election thus: “Chief Pius Okoye scored 535 votes, Vincent Okechukwu scored 20 votes, while Dr. Emeka Onuorah got 15 votes.”

He wondered why the person who came last in the election should be made the traditional ruler after an exercise that was transparent.

The PG said that according to the constitution of Oraukwu, Ezennaja-Amada village is the area that is supposed to produce the Igwe, saying that it was for that reason that the other villages in the town did not participate in the election.

He stressed that despite all deliberate efforts by a minuscule section of Oraukwu to undermine the exercise, the election was eventually held on December 29, 2015, adding that at the end of the exercise, the results were announced and authenticated by a representative of each of the kindred in the Ezennaja-Amada village, the Obi of the village, a chief from the village and a representative of the chairman of Idemili South LGA.

He noted that the entire process was very transparent and credible and observers from government of Anambra State were also on hand to monitor the exercise.

He urged Governor Willie Obiano to intervene in the matter to douse the tension in the community, adding that the people of Oraukwu had vowed that Onuorah will never be their traditional ruler.

The PG later handed over their protest letter, as well as video clips of the election exercise and the presentation ceremony of Okoye to the community, to the Chief of Staff to Governor Obiano, Professor Joe Asike, who promised to brief the governor on the matter.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano.

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