The traditional ruler of Akpakwume kingdom in Udi local government area of Enugu state, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Ekwueme Odenigbo has cried out to governor Peter Mbah to save the people of Akpakwume from one Okolo Livinus Okechukwu who has vowed that the community will never have peace.
Igwe Ekwueme Odenigbo, Oha Bu Eze 11 of Akpakwume kingdom, who is visually impaired, alleged that his palace was attacked on the 23rd of December, 2024 by armed thugs led by Okolo Livinus Okechukwu a.k.a (Zion Mgbidi Jericho) and carted away valuable items including his staff of office and certificate of recognition issued to him by the state government.
His wife, Lolo Mary Ekwueme corroborated the story saying the thugs came with different weapons including machetes, clubs, guns and daggers.
On Monday, youths of the town went on a peaceful protest against the said Okolo Livinus Okechukwu who is also a native of Akpakwume. Some of the placards they carried read in part:
“Okey Ogbodo leave our community alone we are tired of your intimidation and oppression,
“Save our community from Okolo Livinus Okechukwu and Okey Ogbodo, to mention but a few.
According to the newly elected President General, (PG) of the town union, Azubuike Okonkwo, trouble started when an election was held and Okolo Livinus Okechukwu was not returned as the Traditional Prime Minister, (Onowu) of the community.
He tells the story:
“We are gathered here today because we want to liberate the community, we want to stop intimidation and oppression
“We want to tell the world that our community is not a personal estate. On the 23rd of December, 2024 a coup was committed here. Somebody came and dethroned our “Igwe” (traditional ruler) unlawfully and the whole town is not happy about it.
“That is why we are gathered here to send a signal both to the government and the police. The police are aware of this matter, the people that committed this crime are alive and known but up til now, nobody has been arrested . Yesterday i listened to the radio and i heard the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs saying that the staff of the office of Igwe Ekwueme Odenigbo that was taken from his palace during the attack has been recovered and is in possession of the government. “What about the perpetrators of that crime? The PG asked.
“We call on the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Local government, Okey Ogbodo, to please give peace a chance in our community. He is the architect of what is happening now. He constituted a caretaker committee without consultation and that is why that committee is unacceptable to our people. He is not from this community so how did he come about these names? That shows that water may have passed under the bridge for him to have written names of people he doesn’t even know and imposed on our community
“These people are distracting the government from knowing the truth by alleging that the community is embroidered with land matter. We don’t have land issues here in our community, no dispute of any kind either from sale of lands or land grabbing. But these people are hiding under this guise to perpetrate problems and crises in the Akpakwume kingdom.
“The issue is that the community needed a change. The Igwe Ekwueme Odenigbo dissolved his cabinet on its expiration and the Onowu is a member of the cabinet . Our town union constitution did not say the Onowu should be a life Onowu. Onowu is just a member of the cabinet who was appointed as the second in command to the Igwe. So at the expiration of that cabinet, that of the Onowu also expires.
“Igwe has reconstituted another cabinet and we don’t know why that should be a problem for some people led by Okolo Livinus Okechukwu who happens to be the immediate past Onowu. Someone wants to be a life Onowu and the entire community is saying no to that. The community is behind our traditional ruler. A new cabinet has been constituted and the entire community is behind Igwe Ekwueme Odenigbo and his new cabinet.
“The matter is already before the police but the police already appeared compromised so we need the government to come to our aid. The whole community has emptied themselves here to show solidarity and where the people are. We have confidence that the government of Peter Mbah will surely come to our aid by intervening on the matter.
