By our reporters
A group known as Orji Women Organization (Federated), a non political group in Orji, Owerri North LGA of Imo state has pleaded with Imo State Government to urgently look into the imposition of one Chief (Mrs) Lucy Ahaotu as their Women Leader in the Community Government Council.
The Women who stormed Imo Government House at about 8am yesterday carried placards with the inscription: “Lolo Lucy Ahaotu Is Not A Member Of Orji Women Meeting”. “Orji Women Say No To Imposition Of Lolo Lucy Ahaotu As Orji Women Leader”. Lolo Josephine Emesuruonye Is Orji Community Women Leader” etc.
Speaking to Trumpeta on the issue, Secretary General of the organization, Mrs Lizzyben Iheme said that Chief Lucy Ahaotu has never been a member of the group, stressing that she was not the choice of the women in the area, as she has never attended any meeting of the organization.
She further stated that the person whom they recognized is Lolo Josephine Emesuruonye as she has proved to be a woman of great potentials and wisdom, who has never failed in carrying the women of the area along in the scheme of development,
“We are angry that they imposed Chief (Mrs) Lucy Ahaotu as our Woman Leader, when she is not our member. She has never attended any of our meetings before” Mrs Iheme disclosed.
Lolo Iheme also affirmed that the women of the area published the name of Lolo Josephine Emesuruonye in the Newspapers as their choice, adding that they were astonished to hear on radio the name of Lolo Lucy Ahaotu as the one to be sworn in as their Woman Leader, and pleaded with Governor Okorocha to look into the matter.
Adding her voice, the Woman Leader of Umundula Orji, who is also a member of the organization, Lolo Justina Nkwopara described the situation as a slap on democracy, as someone whom she said has never attended or honoured the women in the area could be announced as their women leader in the Community Government Council, adding that the person they know is Lolo Josephine Emesuruonye, while praying to Almighty God to resolve the situation peacefully.
When contacted on phone, Mrs Lucy Ahaotu could not pick her call, but a source close to her said it was Government that appointed her as she did not appoint herself.
When our Reporter visited some prominent sons of Orji Community like Prince Lemy Akakem, chief Amanze Njoku and Chief Bartholomew Ononiwu to speak on the development, they maintained sealed lips and passive over the whole affair. Efforts for them to comment could not yield any fruit.
In a related development, the composition of Community Government Council (CGC) in Imo State has continued to trigger confusion in some communities in the state.
The latest hotspot where the grassroots are spoiling for a showdown are Ezisu and Ikembara Communities in Isu and Ikeduru LGAs respectiely. In Ezisu Community which has been torn apart over an Ezeship tussle for a long period, the composition of the CGC in the area has added fuel to a raging fire of discord and disharmony.
Trumpeta observed that most stakeholders in the area are unhappy with the imposition of certain persons to occupy exalted positions in the CGC component.
In a letter of protest to the Commissioner of Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dated 4th April, 2013 and endorsed by Jude Osuigidi, President General, Ezisu Progressive Town Union, they “vehemently reject the appointments of one Anoyo Udechukwu, Chief Innocet Ike, Mrs Rita Ike and Emeka Obiaju as Secretary, Liaison Officer, Women and Youth leaders respectively to the Ezisu Community Government Council”.
They stated they were nominated outside the Ezisu Progressive Town, adding that their appointments were influenced by Hon. Ikenna Emeh, member representing Isu State Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly.
The letter reads in part “Hon. Ikenna Emeh who is representing Isu LGA in the Imo House of Assembly is from Uloano Ndugba far removed from the local and grassroots matters of Ezisu. He is not a fit and proper person to nominate or have any say in the grassroot administration of Ezisu community without negating and making nonsense of the intendment of the creation of the Community Government Council”.
They contend that no single individual, no matter how highly placed should be accorded the unmerited prerogative of nominating or appointing members of the CGC, stressing that not even a traditional ruler should be granted such prerogative which is inimical to the principles of democratic community grassroot government of the people by the people.
In Ikembara community in Ikeduru LGA, Youths in the area under the auspices of Ikembara Youth Forum (IYF) are unhappy over the imposition of one Uzoma Onukwugha as Youth Leader in the CGC component in the Community.
The position of the Forum, endorsed by its coordinator, Emma Onyemaobi, Joseph Umaegbuolam (Secretary) and Henry Ukaegbu, a concerned citizen, condemned the action, saying it is against the tenets of democracy.
The youths who expressed their displeasure through a protest appealed that they should allow them to elect their leaders and representatives. The youths said as leaders of tomorrow, they should be allowed to elect their leaders as a way of testing their popularity. They resented against the practice of dictatorship through imposition of unpopular person as their Youth Leader. They commended Governor Rochas Okorocha for his achievements, but demanded for a free and fair election to elect the authentic representatives of Ikembara Community in the Community Government Council (CGC).
Meanwhile, Umuokanne community is witnessing turbulent times at the moment over the lists of Community Government Council officials released by the state government. Following the development, people in the community are lamenting over the improper composition of the officials for the local community job.
According to the leaders of the community, some villages were not properly represented in the arrangement which has left out some on the loosing end of the political sharing. The concerned persons lamented the exclusion of Umuokpoke, Umuokuzu and Oduga villages from political positions in the CGC arrangements
The concerned persons are requesting the state government to urgently address the imbalances in the political appointments as the present status is capable of causing serious disaffection and anarchy in the community.
