Protest Rocks Anambra Government House And State House Of Assembly Over Imposition Of Leaders In Ndiowu
Hundreds of people from Ndiowu, had on Monday 30th November, 2020, stormed Anambra State Government House, to protest over imposition of Caretaker Committee Chairman acting as President-General of Ndiowu Town Union, allegedly cancellation of election, embezzlements of 20million community choose your project initiative fund and uncompleted roads.
They called on government to install those elected on 26th December, 2019 or order for a fresh election in Ndiowu to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the town. They asked those they described as cabals and clog on their wheel of Ndiowu progress, to leave the community alone.
The protesters bore placards with inscriptions: “Ndiowu is not for sale” “We need peace in Ndiowu, “Ndiowu must be free,” “caretaker is unconstitutional and illegal,” “Help us oh ye government, “Stop corruption in our dear community,” “No more avenue for criminality in our community again,” “the will of the people should be allowed to prevail,” “say no to cabal” and “Ndiowu is APGA goverment. Don’t see why APGA candidate will the destroy the love of APGA in our community.”
The protest which started by 10:10am, comprises youths, married men and women, and the elderly.
Addressing the protesters, Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, said that their demands are “largely within the mandate of Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs. So, I will minute it to the Commissioner and also bring it to the attention of the Governor. I will ask them to deal with it speedily.
The youth leader of the community, Mgbemene Obiora, said the protest is over the problems they have in their community. He decried the level of humiliation they face in the community, ranging from cancellation of election by certain cabals in the community to embezzlement of community project funds.
“Any money given to Ndiowu is unaccounted for. These things had been happening since 2014. We conducted election in 2016, no outcome, in 2017 no outcome, 2019 again on 26th December, no outcome. That is why we come to let government know.”
Ikechukwu Orji, a 75year old elderly man, called on State Government to come to their rescue, “They should know what is happening in our community.”
Mrs Obiageli Nwafor, who introduced herself as the Secretary of Umuada Ndiowu, expressed her displeasure on the happenings in the community. According to her, “We contribute money to build Orie Ebeagwu but they told Governor that the market was built with the 20million Community Choose Your Project be Initiative fund.”
“We don’t want a Caretaker again. Caretaker don’t last for 8years. Caretaker only stays for 3months. Why is there election in other communities except in Ndiowu?” she asked.
Also speaking, a member of the Caretaker Committee, Onyeka Okeke, who was part of the protest, admitted they have stayed for over 5years. “In fact, we’ve been there for over 5years. The Caretaker Committee Chairman and his cohorts have been siphoning the fund over a long time. So, our people are tired of that kind of government. We had government by proxy. What they are doing is not in tune with what people want.
Most times, they sideline us but will tell the press that the whole Ndiowu agreed on it. “Secondly, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Abadnego Okoli, gave a newspaper publication that five hundred job slots were given to Ndiowu and that he shared it amongst the whole nine villages in Ndiowu. But some of the chairmen here can attest to the fact that such a thing never happened. So, we want to understand where and who he gave those slots,” he stated.
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