Ebonyi: Ekoli Edda concern stakeholders berates ex-council chairman over alleged derogatory statement

Group of leaders of thought under the umbrella of 'Concerned Citizens of Ekoli Edda, in Edda community has berated the immediate past chairman of Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, Eni Uduma Chima over comments credited to him in an interview published on online Media platform recently.

The group in a statement said that the comments of the former council Chairman as contained in the report is nothing but a total misrepresentation of facts on ground and what really transpired during the meeting of Ekoli General Assembly held at Eji-Udo Hall, Ekoli Edda on 29th June, 2024.

“The attention of we, the undersigned Concerned citizens of Ekoli Edda has been drawn to an interview granted by Barr. Eni Uduma Chima, circulated on the social media space by “The Will Online News”, captioned “Ex- Ebonyi Council Chairman Rejects Conduct of Town Union Election with Amended Constitution “. In the said interview, Barr. Eni Uduma Chima requested the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Bldr, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to listen to the plea of Ekoli Autonomous Community in Edda Local Government Area in order to ensure that the forthcoming election of substantive National Officers of Ekoli Band of Hope Union is free, fair and credible. “The said interview is indeed a misrepresentation of facts on ground and what really transpired during the meeting of Ekoli General Assembly held at Eji-Udo Hall, Ekoli Edda on 29th June, 2024 which was even streamed live. Thus, it is important that we put the records straight as follows: “It is despicable that Barr. Eni Uduma Chima – a grandmaster of deceptive propaganda and blackmail has, in his usual characteristics, continued to deceive and perpetrate evil in our Community. It is a common knowledge in Edda and beyond that Ekoli has been under siege and bondage since 2007 when Eni emerged as a state lawmaker and later Chairman of Edda LGA. Also, he deliberately refused to talk about the circumstances that made it expedient for the Governor of Ebonyi State to meet with the stakeholders of Ekoli Edda in his office at Government House on 11th November, 2023. "That meeting was basically as a result of the passionate appeal / call by the Concerned Citizens of Ekoli Edda, for the setting up of a Caretaker Committee for the Town Union in the interest of peace and stability in the community following the gruesome murder of Mrs. Ogeri Oji Uka and Ibiam Abel Idika as well as scores of other victims and atrocities while the then EBHU executives under Dr Uka Mba Uka did nothing to change the situation. “During the meeting with His Excellency, the Governor, the erstwhile President of Ekoli Band of Hope Union, Dr. Uka Mba Uka, presented a copy of the Union’s Constitution to the Governor, and stated that there was no provision in the Constitution for the setting up of a Caretaker Committee. "The Governor, in his wisdom, took the constitution, flipped through some pages and observed that the qualifications for aspirants vying for various offices of the Union, especially as it relates to educational qualification, were not in tandem with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and immediately directed that EBHU Constitution be generally reviewed accordingly for possible amendment. “This unique observation made it imperative to review and amend some sections of the Constitution of the Union. The enshrinement of a clause on Caretaker Committee in the said Constitution to enable Ekoli people have the opportunity, in future, to constitutionally change any bad leadership of the Union without difficulties was considered as absolutely necessary.

“Besides, it is unfortunate that Barr. Eni Uduma Chima in the referenced interview further dodged telling his audience that during a similar meeting with the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, CP Augustina Ogbodo, held in her office at Abakaliki on 21st November, 2023, that many victims, severely brutalized under the watch of the former town union leadership, were also brought to the CP’s office for confirmation, that Eni who didn’t want to have a CTC of EBHU made an attempt to deceive the Police boss claiming that the leadership of the town union at the time had obtained a court injunction, thus restraining the State Government or its agents from setting up a Caretaker Committee for the Union. But the Commissioner of Police, being in the know of the chaotic and unpalatable narratives in Ekoli community, ignored the subtle threat and went ahead to suspend the town union election slated for 25th November, 2023 based on security report. “Consequently, His Excellency, the Governor in his wisdom approved the setting up of a 12-Man Caretaker Committee of Ekoli Band of Hope Union on 21st November, 2023. It is heartwarming to note that by the decision of the Governor, peace and normalcy has abruptly returned in Ekoli Edda except that Eni, not only refused to support the good efforts of the CTC but has continued to engage few individuals in the Community in unnecessary distractions through litigations and petitions. Firstly, he sued the Caretaker Committee over the revocation of some lockup stores purportedly allocated to him and his cronies who could not produce evidence of allotment of the stores. Secondly, he took the community to court for failure to allow him take over Ekoli community sand excavation pit which he claimed was leased to him for ten years without any evidence, amongst others. “It is an irony of fate that Barr. Eni Uduma Chima did not also talk about the blatant refusal of the immediate past members of the National Executive Committee of Ekoli Band of Hope Union to handover the Union’s documents and property in their custody till date notwithstanding the fact that the leadership of the Union under his watch was accused of selling over 400 plots of communal land, amongst others, without accounting for it. “However, the meeting of Ekoli General Assembly held on 29th June, 2024 which Barr. Eni Uduma Chima mentioned in his media interview was well attended by him and other illustrious sons and daughters of Ekoli Edda from across all parts of Nigeria. The meeting was even streamed live thus allowing those outside Ekoli especially in the Diaspora to participate, virtually and in real time. In that widely participated meeting, the amended sections of the EBHU Constitution was publicly read out, debated on before being unanimously adopted and passed into existence. It is on record that prior to the meeting, and having concluded to disrupt the meeting, Eni had written a petition to the Commissioner of Police against the leadership of the community, alleging that his life was under threat and thus requested that the entire leadership of EBHU be arrested. The police came all the way from Abakaliki only to find a peaceful community meeting going on. So his allegation was totally untrue and couldn’t be acted upon by the Police. “We are totally surprised and embarrassed that Barr. Eni Uduma Chima, as an individual, objects to the use of the amended Constitution for the conduct of the town union election. In fact, it is equally both worrisome and unacceptable that the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha who neither attended the Ekoli General Assembly meeting under reference nor showed any interest in the affairs of the town union is being dragged into what he does not know by Eni. “For records, Ekoli General Assembly by the provisions of the Union’s Constitution is the highest decision making body of Ekoli Edda contrary to the claim by Barr. Eni Uduma Chima that it is the Ukejiogo Elders Council – an appendage of the Igboeze-in-Council. Be that as it may, Mr. Thomas Ama and Chief Etta Egor Akanu, as members of the Ukejiogos and Igboeze-in-Council, respectively are for their respective groups and on behalf of Ekoli Community. Whatever position Eni must have ascribed to them is not correct but a deliberate attempt to deceive members of the public. “The Executive Chairman of Edda Local Government Council, Prince Chima Ekumankama stated succinctly in the letter extending the tenure of the Caretaker Committee that the reason for the extension, for a period of three months, is to enable the State Government conduct a free and fair election of the town union. One wonders why Eni is not accepting the tenure extension. May be he is afraid of the said election. “Ekoli Community has been under siege and bondage occasioned by violence and anarchy for over a decade. That some Ekoli people have been killed or maimed, and properties destroyed and community resources looted with reckless abandon remains a common and painful narrative. We are at a loss why a reasonable person, born in Ekoli will continue to be happy under such ugly circumstances. “To say the least, we are extremely happy with the Caretaker Committee of Ekoli Band of Hope Union for the restoration of peace and normalcy in Ekoli Edda. Our people return home freely these days and so also are socio-economic activities coming alive on daily basis. “Therefore, we assure the CTC of our unalloyed commitment in their remaining tenure and hereby pass a vote of confidence on the entire Executive Committee for a job well done. “We also thank the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Bldr, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his proactive approach in ensuring that peace reigns and for his total commitment in tackling all security challenges in the state, including Ekoli Edda. “We wish to state without equivocation that the people of Ekoli Edda will resist vehemently any attempt by anybody to re-introduce violence and anarchy in the community again”. Never again!!! Signed: Hon. Prince Ugorji Amaoti Chief John Emegha Chief Agwu Okeh Arch. Ama Oti Elekwa Arch. Okporie N.0.0ji Dr. Kalu Oji Sunny Okoro Aja (PhD) Dr. Daniel Udu Onyia Dr. Ama Udu Ama