Town Union Election: Enugu Traditional Ruler Preaches Unity, Peace

The traditional ruler of the Akegbe-Ugwu Ancient Kingdom in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Greg Ugwu, has called on the natives of the community to embrace peace.

He spoke with some newsmen about a recent protest over town union elections in his community. The protesters had kicked against the setting up of a caretaker committee to oversee the administration of the community pending the resolution of their differences.

The state Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development had insisted on the setting up of the committee to enable it to resolve the differences, including the existence of two constitutions in the community.

Reacting, Igwe Greg Ugwu stated that, “The appointment of a caretaker committee in my community is the decision of the state government through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development to right the wrongs identified in our system. The goal is to make our community align with the provisions of the rules governing communities in the state.

“It is a victory for the entire people of Attakwu Akegbe-Ugwu Ancient Kingdom. We are peaceful people, and the only way to guarantee our future, including the unborn, is to do the right thing. The commissioner saw the need for it. He listened to various opinions. He also pointed out that a community shouldn’t operate two constitutions.

“Then, the tenure of the past executive also elapsed. It may also interest you that the past executives emerged as caretakers.
With the new caretaker committee inaugurated, I expect them to follow the established procedures to ensure the emergence of democratically elected town union executives. The laws are gazetted and remain sacrosanct. The caretaker committee was inaugurated because nature abhors a vacuum.”

He charged the caretaker committee to be upright in the discharge of their duties.

According to him, “The new caretaker committee has the option of doing the right thing, which I expect them to do. We are serving our people, and they are watching us. The state government is watching us. I pledge that the new committee will enjoy the optimal support of the Igwe’s cabinet both to conduct our town union elections and support our community development initiatives.”

The traditional ruler thanked Gov. Peter Mbah for the ongoing construction of rural roads, Smart School and Type II Health Centre in the community.

Town Union Election: Enugu Traditional Ruler Preaches Unity, Peace is first published on The Whistler Newspaper