From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Some concerned citizens of Mbulumbu community in Enugu East local government area of Enugu state have made a passionate appeal to the Enugu state Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to help in curtailing the crisis in the community.
There has been a simmering crisis which is deepening day by day in the community over choice of next traditional ruler of the community.
It was gathered that the crisis began in 2022 over the choice of who becomes the next tradional ruler of Mbulumbu Community, having completed all the traditional rites in line with their custom for their transited Igwe.
The Authority Newspaper checks revealed that the attempts by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftancy Affairs, headed by Hon. Deacon Okey Ogbodo, to harmonise the community members to pave way for a peaceful election hit the rocks. One of such meetings held at the office of the Commissioner, a few months ago, degenerated into turmoils within the premises of the state Secretariat.
Members of the community are fingering some illustrious sons of Mbulumbu Community as steaming the crisis.
One of them alleged to be leading a faction in the crisis is Engr. Lawrence Ezeh, a serving commissioner in Enugu state, appointed as Commissioner for Science and Technology.
Another group is also pointing accusing fingers Engr Dr. Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe.
It was alleged that Engr Lawrence Eze,who is a frowned Prince in the Community is opposed to the idea of making Engr.Onukaibe, the next tradional ruler of Mbulumbu Community. Instead, he preferred Linus Igbudu.
Chief Aniobi Vincent Okafor lamented that the crises has given much negative publicity to the community, especially allegations of the use of police and other security agencies to harass some youths.
There were allegations that Engr.Lawrence Eze was behind arming some Youths to cause violence in the community as well as the use of security agents to harrass and intimidate opponents.
Chief Aniobi Vincent Okafor stated, “We are shocked to the brim with what Prince Lawrence Ezeh has been doing to Onuokaibe, his followers, family, and supporters. This is a man who we always respect as a son, but instead of reciprocating the same to other Mburubians, he resorted to the use of security agencies to harass us, Onuokaibe’s supporters, and aides. Between December 2023 and November 2025, Prince Ezeh has written a series of petitions against Dr. Onuokaibe just to blackmail him. In one of his petitions which we saw, he allegedly labeled Onuokaibe a drug dealer dealing in ammunition, a fraudster, a terrorist, among others, just because the community chose him to lead us as our traditional ruler. Him and his co has arrested some of Ọnụọkaibe’s supporters who are also from Mburubu several times and took them to Abuja, including Hon Obinna Okonkwo, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Njoku, Hon Azubike Njoku among others. “
Chief Aniobi Vincent Okafor said it is not true that Onuokaibe arrested youths of his community and compelled them to bow before him as their traditional ruler.
According to Chief Aniobi, Engr.Onukaibe’s stance is that He the people and Youths of Mbulumbu are free to support whomever they prefer during the Chieftancy election. He asserted that Engr.Onukaibe is not associated with violence and the allegation of arming the youths with guns.
Chief Aniobi Vincent Okafor stressed that even as there are several litigations pending in various courts on how to resolve the crisis in Mbulumbu Community, he is pleading for Governor Mbah’s intervention.
His words,” .At this point, we want peace. We want our lovely Governor His Excellency Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to intervene in this matter. Let the will of Mburubu people on who becomes the traditional ruler as done in 1976 which is Dr. Jerry Ọnụọkaibe stands. It is sad that Mburubu as a community does not have any traditional ruler or existing government.”
The Enugu state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Engr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, who is accused of steaming the crisis in Mbulumbu community in his reaction described it as wild allegations.
In a press statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner by his Personal Media Aide, Dr Chidipeters Okorie, said the allegations
that he sponsored violence, armed youths, orchestrated attacks, and manipulated security agencies in Mburubu are totally false.
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Part of the statement reads “The truth is that both the 1976 and 2003 constitutions of the Mburubu community carry equal legal weight, as affirmed in the judgment delivered on Feb. 12, 2025, by Hon. Justice C.O. Ajah, Ph.D.
“The court made it clear that neither constitution abolishes the principle that has guided Mburubu for decades: Igweship must rotate among the villages in their order of seniority.”
According to him, this is not the first time such fabrications have been churned out. They come from the same small group, driven by the same ambitions, telling the same lies in different forms.
“Their objective remains constant: to impose illegality on the peaceful community of Mburubu by one man.
“The real issue in Mburubu is simple: the community must decide whether to uphold the constitution or allow one individual’s ambition to override the rule of law.
“The 2003 constitution remains clear. The courts have spoken. The community has spoken. Elders, youths, opinion leaders, and stakeholders have all affirmed that the constitutional order must stand.
“Myself (Prince Lawrence Ezeh) and the majority of peace-loving indigenes believe in following the law. The opposing camp believes in violating it,” he said.
