Anambra-Bishop Swears To Shrine To Retain Speaker Position In Council

Tension and suspicion best described the mood in the ten communities of Awka North local government area , Anambra state yesterday following the allegation that Chairman of the Local Government Mr Cosmos Okonkwo and his deputy as well as all the Principal officers of the local government were taken to a shrine to swear to be making returns to some stakeholders led by Chief Goddy Ezenagu, former commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra.

Orient Daily was shocked that the speaker to be was allegedly directed to a shrine in Mgbakwu presided over by one Azudinma Ndidi known as Onyemeonweye ''you did yourself''. He was the former NRC party chairman.

A livid brother of one of the contenders to the position of Speakership of the Awka North council who informed the Nation on the development said,'' Wonders shall never seize , imagine that our chairman and deputy were taken to Ogwugwu Okija shrine to swear to be loyal to Ochendo and other stakeholders and make returns to them , if not they die. In this era?

''Now it is the turn of Ebenebe to produce speaker , since the other zones produced Chairman and deputy respectively it is the turn of Ebenebe to produce speaker but they were asking them to swear to Ogwugwu or one of the deadly shrines at Mgbakwu whose chief priest is Onyemeonweye, that former NRC Party chairman , he is now a native doctor , Mr Ndidi Azudinma. And when they refused they took their right to Ugbene for Nze Fidelis also known as Bishop to be Speaker when that side has produced Deputy Chairman.

''They forced all the principal officers to take oath to be making returns and we were surprised that after they have killed the party and brought division they can still go that far because of pecuniary interests. Which kind of loyalty and submission to stakeholders is this?

But when contacted, Nze Fidelis was shouting at this reporter threatening to drag those who informed me of the development to Supreme Court to tell the public who informed them about it.

He however denied visiting any shrine to swear for anybody that they would be making returns and angrily switched off after asking how his number came to my phone. He dismissed the entire tales as that by moonlight ferry story teller.

Efforts to speak to Ochendo Mgbakwu , Chief Ezenagu failed as he was not picking his calls as at press time. The former NRC Chairman could not be reached too for comments.

But the Chairman of Awka North , Chief Comos Okonkwo dismissed the allegations insisting that such stories has been part of politics of Awka North once there are losers, they would start spreading negative rumours. He exonerated Chief Ezenagu of being capable of doing such malicious act as they never took him to anywhere during, before and after the election for oath taking.

''It has been the way of APGA before I joined and now I joined it wont be a different thing. I am hearing it for the first time and I will tell you that there is nothing like that but their normal way of saying too many things at a time. I am Knight of the Catholic Church and I can't be part of such a nasty thing.

Confirming the rumour, the traditional ruler of Ebenebe , Igwe Christopher Nnaegbuna said it was an open knowledge but would not confirm those alleged to have said it actually said it but warned that anybody associated to that is not looking for the progress of Awka North and I am baffled by such news that is going viral now.

Igwe Nnaegbuna insisted that if the proper thing is done that Ebenebe with three councilors should be able to have the Speaker of the council but because they were not forthcoming with swearing an oath , the speakership was denied the community. He wondered why Christians and Knights of churches would be forcing children to swear because of position that is fleeting and handed the entire situation to God to unravel the mystery best.