Some Stakeholders in Eziowelle community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state, led by Chief Felix Okafor and Emeka Akukwe have kicked against the high cost of levy charged indigenes for burial.

Addressing journalists in Awka, on Tuesday, the stakeholders accused the new leadership of the town that took over three years ago of imposing a burial levy of N1m on every bereaved family in the area before they could kick off the funeral arrangements of their loved ones.

They lamented that the levy have led to many families abandoning their loved ones in hospital morgues for months till they are able to figure out how to pay for the levy.

Akukwe said: “The same way if you have to start the foundation of your house in Eziowelle you will have to first pay a levy of N1m to the town union before you can start.

“Failure to do so, the town union leadership would mobilise thugs to attack you. This is the type of yoke we are passing through in Eziowelle community.”

He explained that for the reason of the anomalies, he has presented himself as a candidate in the June 30 town union election in the area so as to liberate his people from bondage.

His words: “The election was rigged by anti-democratic forces in town who manipulated the electoral processes in their favour.

“I’m a geologist by training and a consultant in the field. Ordinarily, I won't have anything to do with a community town union election; but I had to come in because of the bondage my people are subjected to. They are subjected to all manner of intimidation and dehumanisation.

“So, some of us had to intervene to save our community because Eziowelle is a peace-loving and progressive community.

“In that election, they used all manner of intrigues, intimidation and manipulation of the constitution to subvert the people’s wish and aspirations.”

He called on the state governor, Willie Obiano, to intervene to give the people of the area the leadership they yearn for so as to save the community from imminent crisis.

The President’s General of the community could be reached as at the time of filing this report as his phone continued to ring switched off while the text message sent to was not replied.

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