•Allegation not true, says accused commissioner

By CHARLES IWUOHA

There is imminent crisis in Anyaraigwe community, Ishinkwo Ukawu in Onicah Local government Area of Ebonyi State, over an alleged plan by Mr. Peter Oge-Ali, the Commissioner for Power in the state to convert an electricity transformer donated to the community for his private use.

Following the alleged plan by the commissioner, leaders of Anyarigwe community raised alarm prompting them to send a strongly worded petition to Governor Francis Nwifuru alleging that the commissioner has concluded plans to invade the community with security operatives to forcefully take away the transformer.

In a Save our Souls (SOS) letter dated October 16, 2025 and addressed to Governor Nwifuru and signed by the trio of the Ukawu Town Union President, Mr. James Eze Agala, Joseph Elem, President General, Anyarigwe village and Hon. Maduabuchi Nwali, Councillor Ishinkwor Ukawu Ward, alerted the governor on the action of the commissioner.

Part of the letter reads: “Your Excellency sir, Anyarigwe village and the entire Ukawu community are heartbroken that the Commissioner for Power and Energy, is using his position to bully and threaten the Neighbourhood Watch officials, urging them to come to Anyarigwe village in Ukawu, to forcefully take back the transformer cannot move an inch. They allege that, because they do not have anybody in government, so it has become so easy to mistreat Ukawu Community.”

The letter narrated how the community rallied well-wishers and sons and daughters of the community to get the transformers as donations in a fundraising organised in 2023.

The community therefore called on the governor to call commissioner to order to avoid throwing the community into chaos.

“We humbly request Your Excellency to call the commissioner for power and energy to order, to avoid creating crisis in a peaceful community.

“He should buy a transformer, if he needs one for his community this ones are our sweat,” the community’s letter read.

Speaking to News Express in his office at Centenary city Abakaliki while reacting on the petition against him, the commissioner dismissed claims of the community.

“It was the community that stole the transformer. Am not from the community. I don’t know what they are saying about the transformer. So their allegations is baseless,” he said.