Obiano's aides fingered as murderous thugs invade Anambra area

By Chuks Collins

Except some urgent help and intervention comes fast, there might be bloodbath within the Lilu community in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state.

A yet to be ascertained group has allegedly flooded the sleepy ancient community with fierce-looking thug and armed mercenaries.

This was as the intense undercurrents over who becomes the community's President General, as well as who becomes the traditional ruler on one side and which Constitution of the community should apply in the selection/election processes rage on.

Already, two highly places aides of Gov Willie Obiano- the Special Adviser on Town Union/Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Ikechukwu Onyeabor and the Commissioner of Local Government/Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Greg Obi have been accused of stoking crisis within the Lilu community in Ihiala council area of Anambra state.

The duo, according to the outgoing President General of the community, Prince Hez Okonkwo (Ochiagha Lilu) shockingly compromised the peace, liberty and cohesion of the community when they ignored a pending suit in the state High Court and went ahead to announce a list of names as members of Caretaker Committee to oversee the community's affairs.

Okonkwo pointed out that since the development, no person in the community has slept with two eyes closed as all prominent sons and daughters of the community have fled the area.

He expressed dismay that agents of the state government could act in an aloof manner by dabbling into an issue that has lasted for more than three decades which illustrious sons and daughters, including some of the dramatic personae in the present Caretaker fiasco, of the community came together and impressed upon him and others to painstakingly and patriotically resolve.

But just as they were concluding the assignment, a group of ambitious sons of the community, five of whom were now in the Caretaker team went to court to stop his progress.

So while the case was pending, he appealed for the court's permission to conduct the town Union election so as to hand over.

But the court laid the choice on the doorstep of the parties to the suit, which the complainants turned down.

Instead, they went to the two government officials to procure a Caretaker committee position for themselves and cronies.

Five of the litigants who took Okonkwo and the community to court, including chairman of the 'Caretaker' Committee made the list.

They have, according to information fixed this weekend for an "election" into the town Union leadership and had also arbitrarily gone ahead to send out list of 'who' and 'what' they want as delegates for the election.

Describing the development as bizarre, Prince Hez Okonkwo therefore appealed to Gov Willie Obiano to put a halt to the charade, accord respect to the rule of law and also to call the two officers to order.

He observed that besides Lilu, there were similar crises sowed and raging in no fewer than ten communities (names withheld) in the state.

He expressed sadness that the branding sons and daughters of Anambra state as All Progressives Congress (APC) or People's Democratic Party (PDP) members should not be criteria to enthrone impunity all over the state by his officials who have clearly been misleading him.

He fears for the worst for the community if the illegal and unlawful Caretaker group insists and go ahead with their planned drama come Saturday.

But when contacted, Chief Onyeabor explained the government acted in the interest of peace and unity of communities.