The emergence of two Presidents-General (PGs) in Amiyi community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, has cracked the existing peace in the community.

To this end, the youths of the community who are already pitching tent with their interest among the two camps are threatening to escalate the crisis unless their choice own is given recognition.

In a petition by one of the factions’ leader, Igboka, he accused the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Chieftaincy Matters Bar Vera Okonkwo of taking a N1 million bribe to endorse the leadership of the immediate past PG, Mr Nwanze Afubera, instead of Comrade Chike Ugboma.

The petition signed by the counsel to Ugboma, Bar Ndubuisi Onwuka, partly reads: “It is our belief that few days before the election slated for 29th June, 2019, the former President General of the community met with some of our clients with a view to raising N1 million which was demanded by the Special Adviser to the governor on town Union and community matters Bar Vera Okonkwo as an inducement for her to re-appoint the former President General and those our clients as Caretaker Committee members for Amiyi town.

“This ploy was refused by two of our clients whom he wanted to conspire with. It is to our greatest chagrin that the former PG Mr Nwanze Afubera informed our clients that he has raised the money and have given same to Barr Vera Okonkwo.

“On the 29th of June this year, Amiyi town both home and abroad gathered at Amiyi community primary school the venue for the election and also present were government Representatives.

“The election was duly conducted wherein Comrade Chike Ugboma emerged as the President General of Amiyi town.”

They accused Governor Obiano’s SA of being a tool to foment trouble in the community saying that she has refused to recognise Ugboma as President of the town.

In her reaction, Barr Vera Okonkwo told journalists that “the town Union election which took place on the 24th of June 2019 at the Amiyi town hall ended with the former president general emerging the winner.”

While insisting that the report of government representatives that supervised the election is there as a proof, she said that a motion was moved by a member of the town that the outgoing executive should be returned which was seconded and the community unanimously endorsed the re-election of the former President General.

She dismissed the N1m bribery allegations as false saying that it is a ploy to blackmail her.

On his part, the former PG, Mr Nwanze Afubera dismissed the allegations of offering bribe to Okonkwo.

He maintained that the development is the machinations of his political opponents.

Security operatives have however kicked off routine surveillance in the community following reports that the youth factions in the area have concluded arrangements to take on each other even as the two factional leaderships have relocated out of town for fear of a possible attack.

Update news