ANIOCHA LEADERSHIP CRISIS!

 Do not drag the Governor into it.

by Chika Christopher(Issele uku)

It is no longer news that Aniocha North has been enmeshed in serious political crisis for quite sometime. The elected Council administration is troubled by interests that are at variance with core essence of developmental democracy at the grassroot which was the purpose of the Local government administration.

Few days ago, it was reported that the legislative arm of the said council carried out a constitutional change in leadership. Eight out of the fourteen elected councillors voted against the Leadership of Hon. Ekene Nwaonye and his deputy and immediately elected a new Leader in the person of Hon. Philip Kawekwune. The dissolution of the former leadership was orchestrated by what the eight councillors described as incompetence, flagrant disregard for rules and due process, high handedness and near none existence of the legislative arm under his watch.

Before now, there were pockets of crisis in the party which snowballed into serious division in the council leadership and other form of sentiments. A section of the party and Aniocha North people frowns at the overreaching and domineering attitude of Hon. Emeka Nwaobi in the party and Aniocha North council in general. It was alleged that Nwaobi was the mastermind of all the crisis that has bedeviled the once peaceful LGA due to his determination to take over the control of the entire local government. Part of his plot was to ensure that the elected Council Chairman does not complete his tenure. In fact he vowed to do that and found a willing tool in Hon. Nwaonye, who he fought to ensure was installed as the Leader of the legislative arm.

The party leadership in the state led by Barr. Esiso cannot claim ignorance of this bickering and bad blood that has been on among their party men in Aniocha North. It's also gathered that the party at the state level had initiated series of interventionist moves but all to no avail.

This recent development that led in the dissolution of the leadership of the legislative arm by majority of the members has taken a new dimension that may likely have severe negative effects on the entire LGA. Earlier this week, on Tuesday precisely, what would have led to serious breakdown of law and order was averted through the security agents. The ousted leader mobilized armed thugs in an attempt to forcefully invade the council premises. Thanks to the prompt resistance of the Nigerian police that got wind of the plots earlier.

Okwuofu: CSC Chair

Now, a new twist has been injected into the already bad situation. It was gathered that Hon. Emeka Nwaobi met with the five councillors that are loyal to him and assured them that he has the backing of His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa. According to the source, Nwaobi told them that if Hon. Nwaonye is not returned, that Gov. Okowa has assured him that he would dissolve Aniocha North Local government and install a caretaker Committee.

Oseme: Aniocha North LG Chair

With this latest development, one is drawn aback to begin to wonder why Hon. Nwaobi would be dragging the name of the Governor into an issue that the Governor has no hand in.

Even Hon. Nwaonye was also boasting that Okowa is behind them, that it's either they return him or they dissolve the entire council. He maintained that he is still the Leader of the house and that he is coming to suspend his colleagues and use the remaining once loyal to him to impeach the Chairman of the council.

At this point, nothing is ongoing in Aniocha North in terms of governmental activities. This needless crisis has caused serious loss of time and energy needed to work for the people that voted them.

We call on his Excellency the Governor of Delta state to impress it upon the warring groups on the need to play by the rules.