23 years without monarch our greatest problem – Anambra PG

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The President General of Nkwelle-Ezunaka community, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, Chief Wilfred Okafor, Wednesday, lamented that the absence of a monarch in the community for about 23 years now, is their greatest source of worry in the community.

Fielding questions from newsmen, he expressed disappointment that since after the election of the immediate past executives, it has been tough concerning igweship enthronement

” I was frustrated during the Easter meeting by two out of scores of contestants to the igweship stool. The former PG, Chief Areh Onyenze, is still in court challenging the process, court process everywhere, the two contestants are no longer contesting anyway.

“They challenged the process when I was the caretaker PG because they worked with the former PG, challenging the authority that I don’t have the authority to conduct election. The process was initiated by everybody under the former PG and since the former PG doesn’t like the process, we have decided to dissolve everything in Easter.

“The process of Igweship of Nkwelle starts afresh under my regime, we want fresh arrangement, the town felt that the trouble is too much and they dissolved the old arrangement for the enthronement of a monarch. We want a clean process where we have a befitting elected person as our monarch.

“We have lost a lot because of lack of a monarch. PG has limitations but the Igwe can call or see one on one with the Governor and sort out issues concerning our community” he further disclosed.

“We are making progress in the area of peace in the families,we need monarch ,(Igwe), to bring warring factions together. Let them have sense of forgiveness to achieve peace, somebody must have done that.

“We have to sacrifice, by the time this year runs out we shall have an Igwe. Government is ready to support us but we are the one holding or delaying ourselves,” he prayed God

On the recent commissioning of housing Estate in the community, he denied knowledge of it adding, “I wasn’t informed, I heard about it later, I asked the chairman of the village, he said that he wasn’t invited, you know something, atimes government doesn’t know what is on ground and it depends on who is working for them, that’s why we will do harmonisation in this community,” he stated

Also on the illegal activities of land grabbers he affirmed that, “The issue of land grabbing/speculation has gone drastically down. We have vibrant land committee, they are doing very well, no longer business as usual in Nkwelle.

“Also I have been empowering youths in many areas, by providing funds for them. The government also is bringing more job opportunities through one youth two skills initiative.

” I told Nkwelle people that this town belongs to all of us, we have to work together, we should know our needs, government has its programmes and we know where it is itching us. Knowing our needs will make us to achieve together.

Reacting, the community treasurer, Chief Gibson Udeagwu, who served and retired meritously from container terminal, Nigerian Ports Authority, Apapa Wharf, Lagos, commended the PG, Chief Okafor, for his efforts to restore the lost glory of the community.

“I thank God for what is happening in our community today because the community has been in a very big mess before the current executive led by Ogbuefi Wilfred Okafor, came on board.

“Today Nkwelle is becoming a city, too much of rascalities are dropping because government of Nkwelle-Ezunaka does not want it. In the leadership of Nkwelle-Ezunaka you can find out that the PG has empowered the security.

“You can no longer hear of the casualties that were happening. He told the Community and those living in the neighbourhood to report anybody living with them who has questionable character to the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of Nkwelle.

The CSO is cooperating with the 3-3 police station to checkmate security in Nkwelle. Peace has been restored through the PG. A lot of youths have dropped their hard drug addiction/dealing and now assist in exposing whoever that deals in such illicit business and other crimes and criminalities in the area,” he further disclosed.