ENUGWU-AGIDI, A COMMUNITY BLEEDING AND CRYING FOR JUSTICE. By: Hon. Ndubuisi Obijiofor

“The current Town Union Caretaker Chairman was on the 8th of August 2020, suspended in the emergency National Convention of Etiti village for gross misconduct and thereafter suspended by the Town Union for gross insubordination and character assassination of the then Caretaker committee members. Again, he is not a registered member of any branch of the town union, a clear violation of Section 7(1) of the town union (EBU) Constitution” – Hon. Ndubuisi Obijiofor

Compliment of the season Umunem. I have watched for the past one week the outpouring of emotion from members of the community who feel disgusted about the reign of impunity occasioned by a group of desperados in Enugwu-Agidi. 

The height of their madness is the brutal murder of Mr Anayo Nworah on the 11th of November 2021. An open execution of a father of four in the presence of the people who cried and shouted for mercy, even the mother of the deceased was present during the torture of her son at Ebe-Ijele. She cried profusely and questioned her son’s crime that warranted the crude treatment he had been subjected to, this was not answered, instead the miscreants threatened to deal with her ruthlessly.

It saddens my heart, when I hear people talk about election in the midst of the gruesome murder of Mr Anayo Nworah of which his corpse is still lying idle in the mortuary begging for justice and the man who was expected to conduct the election had been arraigned before the Magistrate court for conspiracy to the murder of the deceased, though he is still struggling to extricate himself from the murder case in order to contest the imaginary EBU election.

The public execution of Mr Anayo Nworah as witnessed by our people in the Town is capable of unleashing unmitigated disaster unto the community, if care is not taken. In my candid opinion, I would rather suggest that we seek justice for Mr Anayo Nworah first, before  the conduct of the election. For the meantime, the Town can decide to engage men of good will and integrity to man the table of EBU and to conduct a credible election, according to the Constitution of EBU, within the shortest possible time. 

Moreover, it is quite disheartening the conspiracy of silence by those who ought to have spoken out against the reign of impunity in Enugwu-Agidi. Their inability to take discreet measures or join forces with others makes them guilty of all the offences committed by the belligerent group. For proponents of election under the present contraption called Caretaker Committee headed by a non member, it will amount to a monumental betrayal and denial of the fact about the gruesome murder of Mr Anayo Nworah, with other circumstances therein, and other constitutional infractions. To further put this on the right perspective, especially in other climes, Irunebo village will collectively demand to know from the rest of Enugwu-Agidi what killed their son because the government of the day was fingered in the brutal murder and the Caretaker Chairman is on trial for conspiracy to the murder.

Murder is the highest crime anybody can commit against the law and humanity anywhere in the world. It is treated with every sense of responsibility, transparency and professionalism by the law enforcement agency (police) in order to make sure that justice is served. Therefore, the  blood of Mr Anayo Nworah will continue to hunt, not only those that killed him, but those who chose to remain silent while the cause of justice is being subverted.

Come to think of it, it would amount to an aberration and constitutional breaches to wittingly allow a person who is not a registered member of the Town Union to pilot the affairs of the Union. Any support to this constitutional infraction will lead to unbearable consequences in the near future. 

Enugwu-Agidi is a community governed by the Constitution which is our “Ground Norm” and Enugwu-Agidi sons and daughters are subject to its statutory provisions. 

Section 7(1), (2) and (3) of the chapter two (2) of the Constitution of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) Nigeria (as Amended) stated clearly the qualification for membership of the union, while Section 27(1), (2), (3)and (4)a, clearly enumerated the qualifying conditions for anyone vying for election as a national officer of the union. The Constitution provides as follows;

1. That any candidate for an election must be a financial member duly registered with a branch of the union.
2. He must be physically and mentally fit.
3. He must be a man of “unquestionable character” whose interest in the Town’s affairs must not be in doubt.
4. He must not belong to any secret society/cult or be an ex-convict.
5. The President-General of the union who intends to vie for a political office shall first vacate his office three (3) months before the election in order not to jeopardise activities of the union.

Given the statutory provisions of our Constitution in respect to the membership and election of the National Officers of the union, unfortunately, the state government unwittingly imposed a non registered member as Chairman Caretaker Committee of EBU, because of the Nov 6th governorship election, in gross violation of our Constitution. We are yearning and desperate to have the Town Union election conducted to usher in democratically elected officers to save us the periodic crises occasioned by the government appointment of Caretaker Committee. It makes no sense or rather, it will amount to nullity if the election is held in breach of our Constitution, which will set a dangerous precedent, having a stranger or strangers piloting the affairs of the union. The appointment of the Caretaker Committee headed by a non member has an incurable defect. And any action taken in conducting the affairs of the union to the extent of the breach of our Constitution is null and void.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to settle the Constitutional violation in the appointment of the Caretaker Committee and gruesome murder of Mr Anayo Nworah, before we can talk about the election which we expect to usher in a new lease of life. It is a popular Maxim in law that you can not put something on nothing, there must be a foundation before a structure. The Caretaker Chairman was on the 8th of August 2020, suspended in the emergency National Convention of Etiti village for gross misconduct and thereafter suspended by the Town Union for gross insubordination and character assassination of the then Caretaker committee members. Again, he is not a registered member of any branch of the town union, a clear violation of Section 7(1) of EBU, Constitution.

Finally, it is not in doubt that our beloved community has lost her esteemed social values because of the prolonged silence of our people in the face of impunity. Some attribute it to fear of any possible attack, others say because of selfish interests. Whichever situation it might be, silence is no longer palatable. We are in an era of wickedness, man inhumanity to his fellow man, exercise of diabolical powers, excessive land grabbing for self aggrandisement, desperation for power etc. It is good to write on Facebook and Whatsapp to express our opinions against the reign of impunity in Enugwu-Agidi, which in my opinion is not enough, we have to come home and take our beloved community back from the desperados. We have to match our thoughts  and words  with a corresponding action on ground to restore peace and sanity in Enugwu-Agidi. I want to reiterate that without people coming home to speak with one voice against the reign of impunity, all the noise, good write-ups on Facebook and Whatsapp will become an exercise in futility and that will  portray us as irresponsible citizens. Some villages, kindreds and families have had their lands sold illegally by irresponsible elements. This is the time to attend village meetings, kindred meetings and ask questions about your commonwealth (land) and if the answers given to you were not satisfactory make a move and reclaim your land(s). In the end, I believe with God that our land shall be healed again and open new frontiers for peace and prosperity.

May the almighty God continue to protect us from every form of evil machinations and happy Christmas in advance. Amen.