Some aggrieved people from Aninri Local Government Area , Enugu State, have staged a protest accusing the council chairman, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku of gross incompetence, mismanagement and disloyalty.
The aggrieved indigenes alleged that the chairman has set the local government area backwards and expressed displeasure over any plan to retain the chairman ahead of the Enugu State local government election.
The protesters led by some leaders from Mpu, Mrs Stella Ekweremadu, Oduma, Godwin Ezebuilo, Nenwe, Orji Victor, Ndeaboh, Loisa Achieze and Okpanku, Gabriel Uklabi were at the NUJ Enugu Press Centre where they addressed journalists before they moved to the Enugu State Government House to present their position paper to Governor Peter Mbah, chronicling reasons the chairman should not be retained.
Aggrieved Aninri people protesting against the chairman ‘s second tenure bid.
Some of the placard reads; It’s not turn of Oduma; Aninri is not Oduma LG; For equity, fairness, Justice and peace, zoning should be maintained; Our governor, Dr. Peter Mbah is a product of zoning, please maintain zoning in Aninri; We say no to corruption under Ugochukwu Nwanjoku in Aninri.
Nwanjoku was described as one of the worst in the council’s history.
On the issue of zoning, they said whereas Oduma had earlier occupied the chairmanship position for six years, Okpanku had only a single term rather than two tenures, in line with zoning arrangement.
“Contrary to this understanding, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, who hails from Oduma, was endorsed for the Chairmanship position after Okpanku had completed only one tenure.
“This endorsement fundamentally disrupted the rotational balance painstakingly built over the years.
“It returned the office to Oduma prematurely, despite the fact that Oduma had already held the position for six consecutive years and completed its fair share under the zoning structure,” they noted, explaining that the development was accepted in the spirit of loyalty and “respect for His Excellency, and in order to preserve peace.”
The protesters added that as another local government election approaches, “the time has come to restore the sequel rotational understanding of Aninri Local Government. Oduma cannot, for any justifiable reason, be considered to retain the Chairmanship position again. Equity forbids it. History rejects it. Justice condemns it.”
They stressed that even if zoning was to be ignored, capacity, competence and performance must never be sacrificed on the altar of sentiment.
“Within the period of his administration, Hon. Ugochukwu Nwanjoku has demonstrated glaring deficiencies in leadership, administration and public accountability.
“The Chairman has repeatedly exhibited limited knowledge of the statutory duties and legal mandates of a Local Government Chairman.
“Governance has been reduced to impulse rather than guided by law, policy, or institutional discipline.
“The Local Government has been run as though it were a private family enterprise.
“Decision-making is concentrated, dissent is suppressed, and governance is driven by threats and intimidation rather than consultation and consensus.
“He does not command genuine loyalty across the five towns. What exists is fear his usual threat and physical attack not respect. He weaponises poverty.
“His Excellency’s administration is widely recognised for innovation, reform, and disruptive service delivery. Unfortunately, the words and deeds of Hon. Ugochukwu Nwanjoku does not reflect these ideals.
“While he professes loyalty to His Excellency, his conduct and political affiliations suggest otherwise. Loyalty proclaimed in public but contradicted in action weakens governance.
“The chairman speaks arrogantly of his endorsement for a second tenure by Your Excellency and that of the former deputy president of the senate.
“There is widespread concern regarding financial prudence and asset management.
“Within a short period of assumption of office, the Chairman reportedly acquired more than six exotic vehicles, including SUVs, and has allegedly extended vehicle gifts to friends and relatives.
“To date, there is no verifiable record of a single substantial public project started and completed across the entire Local Government Area under his administration, except the construction of his private mansion in Oduma.
“While communities cry for potable water, the Chairman secured a private borehole and a modern swimming pool within his mansion.
“While the deteriorating portions of the Awgu-Ndeaboh road remain unattended, a private access road leading exclusively to his residence was constructed,” they claimed in their protest statement.
They therefore urged that the rotational agreement among the good people of Aninri must be restored, stressing that “the Chairmanship position, by equity and established precedent, should be reverted and move out of
Other demands included that “Oduma, having held the position for six consecutive years (including transition and two full tenures) and another tenure of two years, making it eight years within a very short period. Oduma, cannot in good conscience be considered again at this stage.
“Governance in Aninri must return to competence, transparency, accountability and inclusive leadership.
“Your Excellency, the good people of Aninri, stood firmly for zoning at the state level. We defended the principle that no zone should dominate another. We ask only, that the same principle be upheld within our Local Government.
“Peace in Aninri has historically rested on fairness. Where zoning is respected, there is harmony. Where it is violated, resentment brews.
“We urge Your Excellency, in the overriding interest of peace, justice, equity, and fairness, to restore the rotational understanding of Aninri Local Government.
“History will remember this moment. A decision taken now can either deepen wounds or heal them permanently.
“We remain loyal citizens. We remain committed to peace. But we also remain resolute in our demand for justice.”
Reacting, the chairman, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku described the allegation of non performance by the protesters as baseless, insisting that his administration is replicating the policies and programmes of Governor Peter Mbah in the area.
Prince Nwanjoku, while stressing the need to separate politics with governance, explained that the overdraft obtained by his administration was to fence the ten Smart Green Schools in the area and safeguard them from vandals
