Benjamin Odidika
Awka
Amid escalating tensions in the historic town of
Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area, a new investigative report has
cast Hon. Chukwuebuka David Onuorah, the President-General (PG) of the
Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU-Nigeria), in a light far removed from the
villainous portrayal dominating recent headlines.
Despite a barrage of accusations including land grabbing, illegal levies, and leadership overreach, this research uncovers a narrative of exceptional community service overshadowed by what sources describe as a deliberate smear campaign orchestrated from the palace of Igwe Michael Chidozie Okekeuche, the traditional ruler.
The report, compiled from interviews with over 50 community
stakeholders, archival records of EBU projects, and cross-verified petitions,
reveals Onuorah's tenure as a period of unprecedented infrastructure and social
upliftment; achievements that have irked vested interests, particularly those
aligned with the palace.
A Record of Transformation Amid Adversity
Elected in a democratic process in early 2024, Onuorah
inherited a community plagued by insecurity, crumbling infrastructure, and
unresolved boundary disputes. Far from the "dictator" label affixed
by protesters, his administration has delivered tangible milestones that have
positioned Enugwu-Agidi as a model for self-driven development within Anambra's
Awka Capital Territory.
Key accomplishments include:
Enugwu-Agidi Junction to Ugwu-Ogwu Road Reconstruction: A
5km asphalt road project, lobbied through Onuorah's networks in the state
government, completed in August 2025 at a cost of ₦450 million. This has
reduced travel time by 40% and boosted local commerce, with over 200 businesses
reporting increased footfall.
Revitalized EBU Secretariat Complex: A ₦150 million upgrade
transforming the dilapidated town hall into a modern civic center equipped with
solar power, conference facilities, and youth training hubs. Opened in July
2025, it now hosts free digital skills workshops for 500 indigenes annually.
Mkpasalaku Bridge Construction: Addressing chronic flooding,
this ₦200 million bridge, funded via federal allocations Onuorah secured, was
inaugurated in September 2025, safeguarding farmlands and preventing annual
losses estimated at ₦100 million.
Indigent Stipends Program: A welfare initiative disbursing
₦10,000 monthly to 300 vulnerable households; widows, elderly, and disabled,
totaling ₦36 million since inception. This has been praised by the Anambra
State Ministry of Social Welfare as a blueprint for other unions.
These projects, verified through site visits and state
records, were executed without a single reported embezzlement, contrasting
sharply with pre-Onuorah eras marked by stalled initiatives. Community elder,
Chief Emeka Okafor, who served on the project oversight committee, stated:
"Ebuka brought resources we never dreamed of. Our roads were death traps;
now, they're lifelines. The attacks on him are envy disguised as justice."
The Shadow of Palace-Orchestrated Propaganda
Yet, for all his gains, Onuorah's leadership has been mired
in controversy, culminating in his suspension on November 25, 2025, by a
faction of the EBU Central Executive Committee (CEC). A 17-point allegation
letter accuses him of financial opacity, illegal suspensions, and palace
invasions – charges this research finds riddled with inconsistencies and
traceable to palace influences.
The probe reveals a pattern of "palace-induced
propaganda" dating back to February 2025, triggered by Onuorah's public
petition against Chukwudi Tansi, a suspected kidnapper and palace guard. Tansi,
arrested on January 30, 2025, with illegal firearms, was allegedly shielded by
Igwe Okekeuche, who nominated him as vigilante commander despite Onuorah's
objections. Onuorah's April 4, 2025, letter to the Inspector-General of Police
exposed threats to his life from Tansi's network, leading to the suspect's
rearrest.
In retaliation, palace allies; including Press Secretary
Ichie Ifeanyi Ndulue, launched a media
blitz labeling Onuorah a "private militia operator" and "land
grabber." Ndulue's February 5, 2025, statement claimed Onuorah fabricated
links to Tansi to deflect from his own crimes, a claim debunked by police logs
showing Onuorah as the initial whistleblower.
Further evidence points to manipulated protests:
September 26, 2025, Women's March: Billed as a spontaneous
outcry against "land grabbing," participants were reportedly
mobilized via palace emissaries. Placards accusing Onuorah of selling
"Mbanano lands" referenced a disputed boundary with Awka, where
Onuorah actually advocated for Enugwu-Agidi's interests in state-mediated
talks. Video analysis shows coordinators distributing branded materials from
palace vehicles.
March 2025 Levy Imposition Claims: Accusations of a ₦6,000
"illegal security levy" stem from a misframed community security
fund, approved in the December 2024 AGM but twisted in palace-fueled petitions
to Governor Soludo. Receipts examined show collections routed transparently to
vigilante operations, with no personal enrichment.
The suspension letter, signed by nine CEC members (a
minority, as the full 13-member body was not consulted), cites
"desecration of the royal throne" for an unverified "palace
invasion." Eyewitness accounts, however, describe it as a lawful EBU
delegation delivering a no-confidence motion against the Igwe's vigilante
interference, a move quashed by state intervention in May 2025.
An anonymous CEC source confided: "The Igwe's camp
controls half the village chairmen through patronage. They fund the smears to
oust Ebuka because he won't bend to their land deals. We've seen forged
documents planted in media."
Onuorah, speaking exclusively to this outlet, dismissed the
suspension as a "cyber café fabrication" by "jealous
detractors." "I've faced arrests, threats, and thug attacks – all
palace-scripted. But the roads we drive, the stipends our elders receive?
That's my truth. Enugwu-Agidi knows who built it."
Calls for Justice and Resolution
As Onuorah challenges the suspension in court, residents
urge Governor Chukwuma Soludo to empanel an independent panel. The Anambra
Commissioner for Local Government, Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, has
acknowledged the "multi-faceted crisis" and promised mediation.
This report, drawn from diverse sources including pro- and
anti-Onuorah factions, underscores a deeper malaise: the clash between
progressive town union governance and entrenched traditional authority. If
unaddressed, it risks fracturing Enugwu-Agidi's fragile peace.
In the words of youth leader Miss Chioma Eze: "Ebuka
isn't perfect, but he's ours. The palace whispers must stop; let facts
lead."
This feature is based on extensive research, including
stakeholder interviews, document reviews, and field observations conducted
between October and November 2025. Names of some sources withheld for safety.
Comments
Post a Comment