From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The Enugu State commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon. Deacon Okey Ogbodo has made clarifications on why the leadership of Obeagu Ugwuaji town union in Enugu South local government area led by Mr Freedom Chukwunonso Obi was sacked and a caretaker committee set up by his ministry replaced them.
Deacon Ogbodo made the clarifications yesterday as his response to alleged campaign of calumny and blackmail being championed against him by Mr Freedom Obi in several government quarters and in the social media over the dissolution of his town union leadership.
The Enugu state Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon.Ogbodo, stressed that a committee set up by his office to investigate abuse of power and sabotage of the state government’s rural development initiatives in the area,found Mr Freedom Obi gullible to the accusations.
Then for the interest of peace, stability and development initiatives to continue in the area, he said he exercised the power invested on him as the state commissioner for local government area,Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs to sack Mr Freedom Obi led executive of Obeagu Ugwuaji community and replaced them with a five-man caretaker Committee,,who must maintain peace and be supportive of rural development initiatives of the state government in the area.
According to him, the Caretaker Committee was also tasked to conduct an election for a new executive of Obeagu Ugwuaji town union within one year.
Deacon Ogbodo quoted Section 26 Funds for Rural Development,Cap 81 Laws of Enugu state of Nigeria,2004, which empowered him to sack Mr Freedom Obi-led Obeagu Ugwuaji community town union executive.
Part of the Law reads, “Where it appears to the Commissioner from the petitions or representations made to him or from other evidence made available to him or at his disposal,that the continued existence of a town union is not in the interest of peace and progress of the community for which it is instituted or adversely affects the rural development efforts or programme of the government or the community for which it is instituted, or factionalisation of the town union leadership etc, thereby making the realisation of the purpose of this law difficult or impossible,he(commissioner)may by notice under his hand dissolve the town union concerned”.
Deacon Ogbodo also clarified the fact that all arrangements made for the selection of the five man Caretaker Committee,who are now piloting the affairs of Obeagu Ugwuaji community ended on the 27th day of May 2025, where as the suit with No -E/508M/2025, with intention to stop him from exercising his powers backed by Enugu state Laws was issued by an Enugu high court on the 13th of June,2025.
He explained that the five-man committee with Mr John Ani and Mr Francis I.Egbo for Obeagu Ugwuaji community are mandated to run the Affairs of the community for one year, from 26th May 2025 to 26th May 2026 fulfilling the tasks stated below,
“They are to amend the Constitution to reflect the zoning arrangement of the two villages that makes Obeagu Ugwuaji for smooth running of the community.
“They are to conduct free, fair and credible election before the expiration of their tenure and also submit a quarterly report of their activities to the commissioner. Deacon Ogbodo”.
Commissioner Ogbodo called on the Obeagu Ugwuaji traditional institution, concerned citizens of the community and the general public to cooperate with Mr Joseph Ani-led caretaker committee in forging a progressive agenda with the caretaker committee and Ignore the trouble shooters.
