Over 2,000 Enugwu-Agidi Indigenes Protest Against PG, Demand Leadership Change

Protesting members of Enugwu-Agidi

By Mimi Chiadikaobi

Over 2,000 indigenes of Enugwu-Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday staged a public enlightenment and liberation rally, protesting what they described as poor leadership and alleged mismanagement of communal resources by the community’s President-General, Mr. Ebuka Onuorah.
The protesters, comprising youths, elders, and other stakeholders, said the rally was aimed at saving the community from what they termed “gradual extinction” caused by leadership failures they claimed to have endured over the past three years.
They accused the President-General of acting unconstitutionally and abusing the collective heritage of the people.
The rally, which took place across major parts of the community, drew widespread participation, with demonstrators calling for accountability and leadership reform.
Speaking during the rally, a stakeholder and coordinator of the Save Enugwu-Agidi Group, Mr. Chikeluba Nwankwo, announced that the community would vote out the incumbent President-General during the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) election scheduled for December 29.
Nwankwo said the people had reached their limit and were determined to exercise their constitutional right to convene every three years to deliberate on issues affecting the community’s survival and development.
According to him, the EBU, which serves as the umbrella body for all Enugwu-Agidi indigenes worldwide, would conduct its general election on December 29 to elect a new President-General who would serve the interests of the community.
“We have a serious problem of land grabbing in this community, and that is one of the major issues the new President-General must address,” “Most of our communal lands have allegedly been sold by the incumbent President-General. These lands are collectively owned by the people, not by any individual.”Nwankwo said.
He further alleged that the community had been engulfed in conflicts and leadership crises, with several stakeholders, including members of the Igwe’s cabinet, accusing the incumbent of misconduct—allegations which, he noted, Mr. Onuorah has consistently denied.
During the rally, youths and other stakeholders carried placards bearing various inscriptions expressing support for one of the presidential candidates, Mr. Pius Nwankwo, while vowing to ensure an end to Mr. Onuorah’s tenure.
Some prominent community leaders also voiced their concerns. Dr. Chinedu Ikeanyi, son of the late former monarch of the community, Igwe Davison Okafor, said the incumbent President-General had betrayed the trust reposed in him by the people.
“We want a President-General with a known address, someone who understands leadership and can be held accountable,”
“We do not want someone who, in our view, lacks a clear means of livelihood and allegedly relies on the sale of communal land to fund a flamboyant lifestyle, while disregarding our values and institutions.”Ikeanyi said.
He added that the community desired a leader who would respect traditional beliefs, customs, culture, values, and the royal institution, and who possessed the humane character needed to preserve the legacies of their forefathers.
Another concerned indigene, Mr. Victor Onwudinjo, described the situation in the community as heartbreaking, saying he had never witnessed such a level of tension and alleged disregard for human dignity.
Similarly, the Anambra State branch chairman of the union, Mr. Emeka Ementa, said the atmosphere of fear allegedly imposed on the people should not be allowed to continue.
He affirmed the union’s support for Mr. Pius Nwankwo, describing it as a collective effort to end what he termed the “reign” of the incumbent President-General.
Addressing the crowd, Mr. Pius Nwankwo, an aspirant for the position of President-General and a Director of ICT at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said he was prepared to confront and reverse what he described as the decay left behind by the current administration.
“Before now, there was little interest or mobilisation around union affairs in Enugwu-Agidi,” “But since the current President-General assumed office and allegedly began mismanaging our resources, people have become more involved, determined to restore accountability.”he said.
He noted that the large turnout at the sensitisation rally demonstrated the people’s desire for change.
“These are organic supporters—people who genuinely want the good of Enugwu-Agidi and a departure from the present situation,” he said.
Nwankwo also alleged that the incumbent had attempted to manipulate the election process by proposing December 16 as the election date, knowing that many stakeholders would not yet have returned to the community.
“That attempt failed because we resisted it and retained December 29, which aligns with our traditional convention period,” he added.
In a swift reaction, the incumbent President-General, Mr. Ebuka Onuorah, dismissed the allegations against him as false and misleading.
He expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the December 29 election.
According to him, his achievements in office would speak for themselves, and he promised to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of Enugwu-Agidi if re-elected.