Dep. Gov. Ibezim Says Anambra Community Leadership Must Follow Due Process
Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Deputy Governor of Anambra says the state government will continue to ensure peace and harmony in communities.
Ibezim said this in Awka on Thursday while reacting to a protest by some women of Mbaukwu Community in Awka South Local Government Area.
The women alleged that the Anambra government failed to recognise an elected leadership of Anambra State Association of Town Union (ASATU)-Women Wing but instead set up a caretaker committee for them.
They alleged that the action of government implemented by the Ministry of Women Affairs was as a result of influence of Ibezim who was also an indigene of Mbaukwu.
But responding, Ibezim said the inclusion of his name in the development was deliberate by those who had held the community down to Blackmail him and have their way.
He said the Ministry of Women Affairs acted in the best interest of Mbaukwu Community to prevent possible breakdown of public peace.
He said the village that was supposed to produce the Woman Leader could not reach a consensus which made the election necessary but must be supervised by the government representative in charge.
Ibezim explained that the purported election was not supervised by the relevant authority of the Anambra government and every invitation sent to the so-called elected officials was ignored.
“The people that emerged from that illegal election refused to engage with the government to get some legitimacy, instead, they went about convening meetings of women in the community.
“What the Ministry of Women Affairs did is in order because they are the authority that supervise women activities in the state, the setting up of the caretaker committee is to stop illegality and prevent breakdown of public peace.
“So, it is surprising to know that a few women protested, brandishing my name with the intention to tarnish it.
“This is quite unfortunate to have no influence over what is going on, however, I am from the Community, so it is understandable that some persons must have sponsored the Blackmail,” he said.
Ibezim advised the people of the Community to remain calm and law abiding as the government would organise an election that would be all inclusive.
