Despite the intrigues that played between the President-General of Ifitedunu Town Union, Chief Samuel Nweke and the Ikenga Ifitedunu, Prince Uche Oduche (KSC) with the traditional ruler, Igwe Dr Emeka Ilouno Eze on the other side.
Nweke’s petition to the Anambra state police command to arrest some prominent citizens of the community for supporting the inauguration of the Community’s youth wing was an affront to the administration of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration, so The Authority Newspaper gathered.
The administration of Governor Willie Obiano had approved the inauguration of a youth wing for Ifitedunu after several appeals to the government that none exists in the community but the president General insisted that youth associations won’t be formed allegedly.
But when the youths were aided to be inaugurated by some prominent members and some members of the Town Union, the PG wrote a petition accusing them of holding meeting and allegedly inaugurating youths to ensure he was impeached asking police to arrest them.
The Authority gathered that Police weekend embarked on the said arrest of some prominent citizens of Ifitedunu Community in Dunukofia local government area mentioned in the petition including the traditional ruler of Ifitedunu, Igwe Dr Emeka Ilouno, Eze Dunu Ifitedunu who doubles as Chairman of Anambra state Hospitals Management Board ; Chief(sir) Prince Uche Oduche (KSC), Ikenga Ifitedunu, Okunaenyeife Dunukofia.
Others were a lawyer and Secretary General of the Ifitedunu Town Union , Uche Nwoye; Vice President of Ifitedunu Town Union, Sir Uchenna Nwoye Oragwuncha ; Walter Modilim; Joe Nwobi; Anthony Abaeze; Hon Olisa Okonkwo among others.
Police officers swung into action and arrested Prince Oduche at Awka and took him to Anambra state police Headquarters and were allegedly heading to arrest the monarch and vice President General of Ifitedunu among others allegedly named in the petition before the Commissioner of police CP Sam Okuala got wind of the arrests and ordered the immediate release of Ikenga Ifitedunu and stoppage to the wanton arrests of Ifitedunu people.
Okuala we leant warned the petition writers to desist from acting on frivolous petitions as according to him the traditional ruler has every right to hold meetings in his palace.
The inauguration of the Ifitedunu Youth wing was approved by the office of the Governor of Anambra state, Governor Willie Obiano through the office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Engr. Tony-Uche Ezekwelu and the stoppage of the election was like an affront on the Governor.
The youths condemned the arrests and appealed to the President General to take part of wisdom and stop intimidating the traditional ruler , Ikenga Ifitedunu and its prominent citizens as his priority should be on the way to move Ifitedunu forward.
When contacted the President General of Ifitedunu Chief Samuel Nweke explained that Ikenga Ifitedunu was not arrested but was invited by Commissioner of police and everybody appealed to maintain peace.
He denied ever ordering the arrest of the Traditional ruler of Ifitedunu but queried to know if anybody is above the law, insisting that Prince Oduche was just orchestrating all that.
Nweke informed further that he was shocked youths were being mobilized against his leadership and asking why a youth organization should be formed without the knowledge of the President General of the town. He accused Ikenga Ifitedunu, Prince Oduche of mobilizing youths and community against him only to turn around to say they were having meeting and inauguration.
Meanwhile, the Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and Ikenga Ifitedunu, Chief(sir) Prince Uche Oduche (KSC), have appealed for caution from all parties in Ifitedunu to give peace and development a chance in Ifitedunu.
Addressing the newsmen on the strength of the Ifitedunu Town Union President, Chief Nweke’s petition, Governor Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, Engr. Tony-Uche Ezekwelu warned against abuse of privileges by people in constituted authority.
He reiterated the need of peace, unity of purpose and love to exist in communities between the Town Union, the traditional ruler , the women and youths for progress , growth and development.
Ezekwelu said it was needless for the arrests and intimidation on some citizens of Ifitedunu because the state Government read reports on Ifitedunu which centered on lack of representative youth organization and approved the election of the youth wing of Ifitedunu against the stand of the President General.
He admitted that the youth wing was inaugurated by him and others in line with the guidelines and due process of establishing a youth organization or association in communities of Anambra state, even as he urged the youths to swing into action with projects and programmes that would reinvigorate growth and development in Ifitedunu. He asked them to support the government of Governor Willie Obiano and his second term agenda.
Ezekwelu said: ‘’The inauguration was supervised by the state Government with representatives of the Town Union and the guidelines we gave were followed to the later even all the security agencies had representation at the venue and it went smoothly till the end and the youths hosted us in appreciation of peaceful inauguration. I wonder why some prominent men were being harassed by the police. I call on the citizens of Ifitedunu to be law abiding irrespective of one’s position and status in line with the desire of the state Governor’’.
He said further that the youths sang Liberation song for being inaugurated and wondered why people should be against the inauguration of the youths while holding tight to their own positions. He thanked Obiano for giving youths opportunity to serve in his government.
Obiano’s aide commended Prince Oduche, Ikenga Ifitedunu for canvassing for support for Obiano’s second term and urged him to continue his mobilization.
In his contribution, Ikenga Ifitedunu, Prince Uche Oduche (KSC), said he has forgiven the President General of Ifitedunu Chief Samuel Nweke and all those who joined forces with him in hauling insults on him during the community’s town hall meeting as well as the humiliation by the arrest, for peace and progress of Ifitedunu community, even as he appealed to them to allow every section of the community’s arm of leadership to exist and function independently and collaboratively for progress and development of the community.
He decried a situation people who claim they are rich use their wealth to create confusion in the community rather than use it in developing and creating empowerment for youths in Ifitedunu.
He thanked Governor Obiano for appointing Mr Mark Okoye , the youngest commissioner in the state as well as the Commissioner for Social Welfare, children and Women Affairs, Dr Victoria Chikwelu and the traditional ruler as Chairman of Anambra state Hospitals Management Board among others.
He said Ifitedunu is known for excellence and integrity not charlatanism, pointing out that their son Hon Lawrence Ezeudu is a member of House of Assembly and another Chief Ben Nwabueze is an appointee of the Presidency.
Prince Oduche announced his endorsement of Obiano for a second term and urged all citizens of Dunukofia to root for Obiano’s second term agenda without compromise. He urged all groups to be committed and dedicated to peace , development and growth in Ifitedunu.