Enugu: Attakwu Community Protests Alleged Plot to impose Caretaker Committee

…as aggrieved villagers storm Nkanu West Local Government Secretariat, Ministries of Rural Development, Justice

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         BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU

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Hundreds of indigenes of Attakwu Akegbe Ugwu, Awknanaw Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State on Monday, stormed the local government secretariat, protesting the alleged plot to impose Caretaker Committee against the will of the people.

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To this end, the protesters have passionately appealed to the state governor, Peter Mbah for urgent intervention to stem civil disobedience in the community.

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The angry villagers while presenting their grievances to Chairman of the Nkanu West Local Government Council, Hon. John Ogbodo, for onward transmission to the state governor, wondered why the Igwe of the Community, HRH Greg Ugwuekwuochi is interested in setting up a Caretaker Committee instead of Town Union Development election, whereas there is no parallel leadership in the community, stressing that the community is peaceful.

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The President-General of the Attakwu Town Development Union who spoke on-behalf of the aggrieved villagers, told the Nkanu West local government boss they were in the Secretariat to “Rrequest for intervention in the overt and concerted attempt to impose Caretaker Committee over Attakwu in utter contradiction and contravention of the constitution of Attakwu Town Development Union.”

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Responding, the Chairman of the local government, Hon Ngebe commended the villagers  who were accompanied by a 98 year old man, Mark Ngene (JP) for their peaceful protest.

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Ngene urged them to avoid violence, assuring them that he would take their demands to Governor Mbah and other relevant authorities for further action.

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The demonstrators later visited state Ministries of Rural Development, Justice before returning to their Attakwu home community.

In a petition to the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, dated July 3, 2025, made available to newsmen read:

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“We the undersigned concerned citizens of Attakwu Community for ourselves and all who share democratic principles that are broad based; peaceful, open, free and fair and without undue encumbrances, wish to bring to your impartial and fatherly notice for necessary action, overt and concerted attempts to install Caretaker Committee in place of Attakwu Town Development Union whose tenure is about to expire.

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‎”We bring this aberration to your notice because you are the chief law officer of the state; image of justice in Enugu State; legal application, disoensation, enforcement and interpretation for the goid of all!

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‎”Historically, Attakwu Community transformed from Attakwu Welfare Association which adopted and operated the Constitution of 1963. After Enugu State Government granted Attakwu autonomy in 2002, the Constitution was upgraded to embrace our new status, hence Attakwu Town Development Union Constitution of 2002. The present Town Union applied in writing to the Ministry of Rural Development for a review of the Constitution which was granted hence the reviewed constitution of 2021.

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‎”Sir, worthy of note is that the Town Union Constitution has provided for election of new officers at the end of tenure and does not provide for Caretaker Committee.

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‎”We are horrified and dismayed in the sequences of events with the Community, the Town Union and the Ministry of Rural Development, Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter which suggest overt and concerted efforts to install Caretaker Committee WHEN THERE IS NO CRISIS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN CONTRADICTION AND CONTRAVENTION OF THE COMMUNITY CONSTITUTION THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR CARETAKER COMMITTEE! We further affirm that;

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‎”1. The Town Union had written a letter to the Supervising ministry three months ago signaling end of its tenure and requesting for election of succeeding officers (copy attached).

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‎”2. Two letters were sent to the ministry to inform the ministry that electoral body has been constituted and various villages directed to send their nominees as required by the constitution (copies attached).

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‎”3. Another letter was written to the ministry as requested by the ministry on two suitable dates for the election (copy attached).

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‎”4. And because one of the dates lapsed without reply from the ministry, a reminder was sent (copy attached). Apparently, the supervising ministry is waiting for the expiration of the tenure of the Town Union as a plausible excuse for a Caretaker Committee!

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‎”Sir, over a month ago, the supervising ministry invited the Community for a pre-election meeting. Ninety nine percent of the people present said election of the Town Union should proceed.

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‎”We therefore want to state without ambiguity that anything short of obeying the standing constitution of our community which is organizing election for the leaders of Attakwu town development union is a deliberate effort to create chaos, anarchy and breakdown of law and order in the community.

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‎”As earlier stated, we have chosen to alert you knowing your antecedents. Enemies of the advancement of His Excellency’s indomitable disruptive and transformative achievements, strides and relative peace are bent on implementing illegality to trigger unrest in our community. Please sir, you have the power; knowledge, and integrity to direct them properly.

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‎”Permit our assertion which is correct though, that the proponents of Caretaker in Attakwu are political foes. Their antics in the past can be recalled by leaders who are close to them.

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‎”On these notes, we make haste to state that Attakwu Community under the present Town Union has enjoyed peace and improved development not recorded in the past. We are peace loving people and will continue to do everything necessary to key in and support the tomorrow is here agenda of the Executive Governor of Enugu State.

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‎”All who share democratic principles that are broad based; peaceful, open, free and fair and without undue encumbrances must embrace implementation of constitutional provision and refuse anarchists who strive to impose leadership. We are counting on you for justice SIR!

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