Igwe Ekpete (in red dress) fielding questions from newsmen
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The traditional ruler of Amankanu Ohofia Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Shadrach Onodugo Ekpete, has pledged to promote peace and stimulate socio-infrastructural development in Amankanu community.
Chief Ekpete gave the hint in Enugu on Wednesday, March 11, after a stakeholders’ engagement with the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Charles Egumgbe, on the forthcoming Town Union election in the community.
He noted that his unanimous election as the new traditional ruler of Amankanu community was an encouragement to further strengthen his goodwill towards the people.
His words, “I am so delighted that our people among other iillustrous sons of Amankanu Community, considered me the most fit to be crowned as their new traditional ruler. They trouped out enmasse to confirm their support for me through an unaimous election on Friday,March 6, monitored by officials from Enugu state Ministry of Chieftancy Affairs”.
Chief Ekpete assured that he would consolidate on his philanthropic gestures in Amankanu community.
He listed some of his philanthropic efforts in the area to include the construction and sitting of five culverts to improve drainage along the Amankanu road.
He stated, “The road network across Amankanu is an important project I wish to consolidate on.On my own, I have buitl five curlvets to enhance the drainage system. The construction will begin in earnest so as to make our road motorable”.
The monarch also promised to empower more youths in the community in addition to the annual Amankanu Football Competition he sponsors.
“Youth empowerment has always been part of me. In the next few weeks,I will role out a new programme to discover and expose more of our talented Youths. It has always been my desire to help them,I will increase my efforts in this direction, since it suits our people to elect me unainomously as their new tradional ruler.
“Every 26th day of December,Our widows receives Christmas package of new clothes from me. By the special grace of God,I will improve on the largesse and more”.
Igwe Ekpete also called for peace, urging aggrieved groups to close ranks and work harmoniously with his cabinet to sustain peace, which he described as essential for development to thrive in Amankanu community.
In a brief chat, the Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. C.O.C. Egumgbe, confirmed to newsmen that Chief Shadrach Ekpete unanimously emerged as the new traditional ruler of Amankanu community on Friday, March 6, 2026, through an election monitored by his ministry, describing the exercise as peaceful.
Commissioner Egumgbe said that since then, his office had not received any report suggesting otherwise.
Barr. Egumgbe described alleged pockets of protest against the crowning of Chief Ekpete as the new traditional ruler of Amankanu community, reportedly spearheaded by one Chief Simon Okeke Udeh, as unknown to his office.
His words, “I invited many stakeholders from Amankanu community for a discussion on their forth coming Town Union election. Our discussion was just that and nothing more.My office is not aware of any protest elsewhere.”
However, The Authority reporter observed that one Chief Simon Okeke Udeh and his supporters claimed there was a pending court case over the Amankanu chieftaincy tussle which had lasted for about eight years.
Chief Simon Udeh maintained that he was elected as the traditional ruler of Amankanu eight years ago and expressed optimism of securing a favourable judgement in court.
His explanation followed pockets of opposition from a group within the community who insisted that the Amankanu Igweship dispute remains before the court after eight years.
