KINGSLEY EBERE
The controversial Chieftaincy title certificates issued to 25 indigenes in their various homes by the members of the cabal in Umuchu town, Aguata Local Government area of Anambra State, has thrown the town into crisis.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that while the Igwe Umuchu’s cabinet Chiefs are in disarray and fighting among themselves over the certificates, one of the cabinet members and Philanthropist, Chief Abraham Otti, Ikenga in Umuchu town, has called for the recall of the controversial certificates.
Ikenga Umuchu, also known as Mighty Mighty, has promised to refund the purported N20m, which the members of the cabal claimed the chieftaincy title beneficiaries contributed for the purchase of two security vehicles in Umuchu.
Chief Otti stated this as the crisis continues unabated, stressing that it was neccessary to recall the certificates in order to restore the integrity and reputation of the Umuchu Cabinet Chiefs.
He noted that it was a great error for the members of the cabal to have been going from house to house like Nicodemus to give out the award cerfificates against the standard practice of giving Chieftaincy titles in Umuchu.
He recalled that during the time he was given the title as Ikenga in Umuchu, he requested that the Igwe and the Cabinet Chiefs should come to his house to do so but it was rejected and told then that it must hold at the palace of Igwe Umuchu as the tradition demands.
Chief Otti wondered why the traditional prime minister, Onowu and cohorts were going from house to house to give the certificates to the beneficiaries whereas those given titles the previous year have not been given their certificates.
He stated that there is need for an urgent meeting and the decision should be taken to recall the certificates. He posited that proper screening should be done and a date fixed for the chieftaincy titles to the beneficiaries.
Ikenga Umuchu noted that the chieftaincy certificate scandal has brought shame to the cabinet Chiefs and indeed the Palace of Igwe Umuchu. He outrightly condemned the actions of the cabinet Chiefs who were involved in the controversy.
Meanwhile, the President General of Umuchu town union, Chief Charles Ezenwabasili, may be on his way out of office following the agitation by Umuchu town critical stakeholders led by Hon Akwaeke, who insisted that he must resign for deliberately breaching the constitution of Umuchu town union.
Ozo Charles Ezenwabasili was one of the recipients of the controversial chieftaincy title certificates, while the constitution stipulates that the President General must not accept chieftaincy title in Umuchu while in office.
Ezenwabasili is now in a dilemma on what to do because he has clearly violated the constitution while his tenure is expected to elapse in August, 2025.
He was reportedly said to be planning not to hold any meeting until his tenure ends in August, 2025, in order to avoid the impeachment by the union.
