Stakeholders in the Eziama autonomous community, Isiala Mbano council area of Imo have lamented the imposition of leaders on the community, describing democracy in the land as near extinction.
Some of the stakeholders who spoke with newsmen in separate interviews in Owerri, on Tuesday, said democratic institutions built by the people of the community could be forced into extinction if urgent steps were not taken to save the situation.
A leadership tussle has rocked the community following the decision of the traditional ruler, Eze Ishmael Anyadiegwu to appoint a President-General for the community, even as the elected President-General, Mr Patrice Unogu had yet to complete his term in office.
Unogu who was initially elected for a four-year term in February 2017 was returned unopposed for a second term in 2021 following the completion of his first term in office as President-General.
The stakeholders have, however, rejected the move, describing it as “unconstitutional and an aberration of democracy, rule of law “ and an insult to the consciences of those who democratically voted for a leader.
One of the stakeholders, the immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodinma on Inland Security, Pope Ekwegh, described the move by the traditional ruler as “unconstitutional “ adding that the state government would never sanction the sack of any democratically elected community leaders.
Ekwegh, a one-time South-East Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party said efforts made by the community’s diaspora group to iron out the issue and restore peace proved futile.
He added that Eze Anyadiegwu’s emergence as a traditional ruler was with the permission of the people, hence the need for him to, among other things, respect the people’s rights as expressed in the ballot by returning to the status quo.
“Eziama Bond of Peace, as we are popularly, historically and constitutionally known, is a peace-loving people who have been guided by our laid down constitution since 1940 and we cannot afford to destroy what we have laboured to build and sustain over the decades “, he said.
The community’s Youth President, Mr Tochukwu Ekwegh said in line with Section 15, paragraph 2 of the community’s 2018 constitution as amended, “only an election can produce a person who would serve as President-General “.
He urged Eze Anyadiegwu, a knight of the Anglican Church to be guided by the constitution, especially in the interest of democracy at the grassroots.
The community’s Diaspora Chairman, Chidi Anumudu, said ”although Anyadiegwu had refused to work with the Peace Committee report it presented, the group would continue to push for the legitimate demands of the majority diplomatically and otherwise “.
Speaking, however, the Chairman, Imo Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, said that “although certain circumstances could necessitate the appointment of a President-General, elected community leaders should be allowed to serve out their term in office.“
Imo community cries out over leadership tussle, calls Eze Anyadiegwu to order
