Tension in Anambra community as LG Commissioner is accused of fueling crisis in the area

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By Madu Obi

Tension is mounting at Nimo Community, Njikoka local government area of Anambra State following disagreement between the leaders and the Commissioner for Local Government and Town Union Affairs, Hon TonyCollins Nwabunwanne over continued recognition of a deposed President General of the town by the state government.

The people said that by continuing to recognize Engr Dan Anakpe as President General despite a court judgement nullifying his election, the Commissioner is formenting in Nimo.

Recall that an Anambra High Court sitting in Neni had, on December 18 last year ruled that the Nimo Town Union elections conducted in January last year did not follow the town's constitution and directed the conduct of fresh elections by a caretaker committee.

However the Anakpe group appealed the judgement, but failed to obtain a vacation order.

Speaking on behalf of Nimo Elders Forum on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the community, Ogbuefi Frederick Awagu, expressed surprise that rather than reprimand the Anakpe-led executive for contempt of court, the Commissioner was insisting that the judgement had been appealed against and that it was only after a higher court upheld the earlier judgment that he would recognize any other person.

But Awagu challenged the Commissioner to mandate members of the other group to produce a vacation order by the court, which would absolve them of contempt of court.

He expressed disappointment with the stance of the Commissioner, noting that the situation had led to the other party fomenting trouble in Nimo, as well as ridiculing the traditional ruler of the town.

He referred to a recent incident where the Anakpe group refused to allow the royal father of the town to speak at a funeral ceremony of the wife of a cabinet member, which, he said, nearly led to a brawl.

"This is a highly provocative act capable of causing a security breach in the town," Awagu said, and called on the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo to wade into the matter and prevail on the Commissioner to do the needful to avert crisis in the town

Nimo Community has been embroiled in crisis for over a year following the activities of some people in the area, who were believed to be working against the traditional ruler.

"At every event, they attempt to ridicule the throne as was the case at the funeral ceremony where they attempted to stop the traditional ruler from speaking to the bereaved member of his cabinet", Anakpe said.