HRH, Igwe Greg Ugwu, the traditional ruler of Attakwu Akegbe kingdom, Nkanu West LGA, Enugu State.
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The Grand Patron of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, ,HRH Igwe Gregory Ugwu, who is also the traditional ruler of Attakwu Akegbe Community, in Nkanu West Council Area of Enugu State, has appealed to good citizens of his community to maintain peace and be law abiding, amidst the blackmails and provocations, masterminded by a few members of the community.
The royal father made the plea as a measure to douse tension over recent protests and blackmails staged against him and the Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon.Deacon Okey Ogbodo in Enugu metropolis and at Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government headquarters, accusing them to be averse to conducting fresh Town Union election in his community.
He said there was no merit in the protests but a total falsification of issues to deceive the authorities and not well nformed public.
He alleged that the protests were stage-managed by one Chief Ikechukwu Eneh, who has allegedly occupied the position of the Town Union’s President General for eight years and three months, but still reportedly bent on imposing his stooge on the community, undemocratically using a constitution unknown to Attakwu General Assembly.
He said that the wish of most members of the community and concerned citizens is that an authentic constitution that will be accepted by the Attakwu General Assembly is written to provide the modalities for the election and a guide ifor other affairs of the community.
He said on the contrary, the sponsor of the rented protests is insisting on the legality of the multiple constitutions he wrote with his cronies,which were never presented before Attakwu Community General Assembly.
According to Igwe Ugwu, most of the people mobilised in the said protests were rented crowd from other communities and based on his appeals, the good citizens of Attakwu Community didn’t reiterate.
He expressed absolute confidence in the power of the state government authorities and the judiciary in resolving the issues,since an aspect of the matter is already being pleaded in the high court by some concerned citizens.
HRH Igwe Gregory Ugwu, who is also the grand Patron of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, also denied allegations that he gave the sum of fifteen million naira to the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon. Deacon Okey Ogbodo, to enhance the appointment of a Caretaker Committee in Attakwu Community.
The Royal Father who spoke to newsmen in his palace on Wednesday, July 17, stressed that the ultimate ambition of every good citizen of the community is to have a generally accepted constitution that will ginger a credible election, for absolute peace to reign in the community.
He alleged that Eneh, who stretched his leadership of Attakwu Community Town Union to Eight years and three months was the person behind the problems.
He sad that Chief Eneh throughout the eight years he rigmarolled and allegedly usurped the leadership of Attakwu Town Union under the past administration in Enugu State, and did not reportedly tender account of his stewardship before Attakwu General Assembly, but decided to conduct an election, few months to end his tenure, July 23rd,2025.
He disclosed that most concerned citizens who are displeased with the system of Town Union leadership, foisted on Attakwu Community staged their complaints at the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, as far back as 2024, when Deacon Okey Ogbodo assumed office as the new Commissioner for Local Government,Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs,in Enugu State.
He stressed that what the Concerned Citizens are requesting for is a Caretaker Committee that will write an acceptable constitution out of the multiple constitution written without the consent of Attakwu General Assembly, adding that the Caretaker Committee will set up modalities for the Town Union’s election.
His words,” I was crowned the traditional ruler of Attakwu Community in 2017 after it was carved as an autonomous community.Initially we had Attakwu Town Union led by late Stephen Aniagu and Attakwu Peace Development Union led by Mark Ngene.
“During my Ofala festival in 2017, I gave Chieftancy titles to six persons, three from each of the two factions. Both factions agreed on constituting a 9- member Caretaker Committee,one person from each of the nine villages to be assisting the traditional ruler,(myself).
“Chief Ikechukwu Eneh then based in Onitsha was made the chairman of the Caretaker Committee His Committee was appointed to last only three months.
‘Suprisingly Chief Ikechukwu Eneh after the three months assumed the position of President General of Attakwu Akegbe Community, from 2017 – 2021.
“Under the last administration, he swerved his way to return for a second tenure,2021- 2025 which will end on July 23rd.
“On July 23rd,Chief Eneh would be completing eight years and three months, still those issues we wanted him to treat under three months as Caretaker Committee Chairman are still left undone after eight years”.,Igwe Ugwu stated.
He described the protests and allegation of giving N15 million bribe to Deacon Okey Ogbodo as stage managed and blatant blackmail to confuse the authorities from knowing the truth of the matter.
In another twist, the Concerned Citizens of Attakwu Community in addition to their petition against the leadership of Attakwu Community Town Union led by Chief Ikechukwu Eneh to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs in 2024, has gone to court to challenge the alleged illegalities in the operations of Attakwu Community Town Union under Chief Ikechukwu Eneh.
In the Suit with No – HAGB/30/2025 before an Enugu High Court, brought by Joel Nnaemeka Ugwu and five others against HRH Igwe Gregory Ugwu,the traditional ruler of Atakwu community,Chief Ikechukwu Eneh,in his position as President General of Attakwu Community and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, the Concerned Citizens alleged the collaboration of Igwe Gregory Ugwu in the asserted mal-administration of Attakwu Town Union by Chief Eneh,the exclusion of Women from Attakwu Community Town Union leadership.
The Attakwu Concerned Citizens are also pleading the Court to grant their request for the appointment of a Caretaker Committee to right the alleged wrongs of Chief Eneh led Town Union, the opportunity to write a fresh constitution that will be read and accepted by Attakwu General Assembly.
In the plea, Attakwu Concerned Citizens want the post of President General of their Town Union to be envisaged in the fresh constitution to be rotational among the Nine villages that make up Attakwu autonomous community.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs,Hon.Okey Ogbodo,said he is not disturbed by the campaign of calumny against him, the stage managed and rented crowd protests against his ministry or the allegations of receiving fifteen million bribe from HRH Igwe Gregory Ugwu, but is bound to discharge his duties in accordance with the rules bothering on Chieftancy Affairs in Enugu State.
He stressed that Section 26 of funds for Rural Development,Cap 81 Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria,2024, provides as follows
“Where it appears to the Commissioner from the petitions or representations made to him or from other evidence made to him or at his disposal that the continued existence of town union is not in the interest of peace and progress or progress of the community for which it was instituted, If there exist two factions or more, an unhealthy rivalry among the members or in the leadership, thereby making the realisation of the purpose of this law difficult or impossible, he(Commissioner)mat by notice under his hand dissolve the town union concerned.
Deacon Ogbodo said all the warring factions in Attakwu community were notified of his ministry’s intention to constitute a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of Attakwu Community,resolving contemporary issues on ground and setting up modalities for election of a new Town Union executives within a specified period.
He said it’s very unfortunate that a faction decided to dispense their energy and resources on campaign of calumny, raising false allegations in their rented protests instead of harmonising interest with others for absolute peace to reign in Attakwu community soon.
