In a shocking turn of events, the serene town of Mburubu has been thrust into the spotlight of controversy following a petition filed against one of its prominent figures, Ọzo Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe. The petitioner, Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh, Commissioner for Science and Technology in Enugu State, has levied grave accusations against Onuokaibe, accusing him of involvement in cultism, banditry, and employing thugs to harass the people of Mburubu, among other allegations.
The petition, which was initially submitted to the Enugu State Command of the Nigerian Police(SCID) and subsequently to the DSS Enugu Command, failed to gain traction. Undeterred, it found its way to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, with a sinister motive apparent: to tarnish Onuokaibe’s reputation and derail his bid for the esteemed position of Igwe in the community.
A source close to the matter revealed, “Prince Ezeh’s aim is clear—to discredit Onuokaibe and prevent him from ascending to the Igwe throne, a position he is poised to win. His desperation knows no bounds.”
Further scrutiny into the matter uncovered startling revelations about Prince Ezeh’s ulterior motives. Allegedly, he accused the state government of tampering with the community’s constitution, opting to use a gazetted document from 1976 to kickstart the Igwe selection process. This move, according to insiders, is a calculated attempt to maintain control over the throne and thwart any contenders, particularly Onuokaibe.
When reached for comment, some persons from Prince Ezeh’s camp stated that their boss has been interested in taking over from his father as the traditional ruler of Mburubu. They allege that Prince Ezeh views Onuokaibe as a formidable obstacle to his ambitions of assuming his father’s position as Igwe. “Ezeh sees Onuokaibe as a thorn in his path to power. He has resorted to underhanded tactics, using proxies to sow discord among Mburubians,” a source claimed.
Another source said, “His use of Chief Igbudu was the last dice to be thrown.” “He wanted to use it to get the government’s attention, then come to a round table discussion which would eventually favor him.” “Truth be told, he was not aware of the 1976 constitution which the state Government agreed to use; this also spoilt his next game.” “Therefore, the issue of the use of court emanated again which is almost working for him.” “He actually leveled allegations against Onuokaibe to discredit him but why he didn’t show up when the police came for investigation still baffles us.”
Recent developments saw the intervention of law enforcement authorities from the Force Headquarters, who arrived in Mburubu for inquiries and investigations. Shockingly, Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh was conspicuously absent during their visit, raising questions about his willingness to cooperate with the investigative process.
As tensions escalate and allegations continue to surface, the people of Mburubu are left grappling with uncertainty and apprehension. The battle for the Igwe throne has morphed into a battleground of accusations and power plays, with Prince Ezeh’s motives under intense scrutiny.
The coming days are sure to unveil further twists and turns in this gripping saga of ambition, deception, and political maneuvering.
During their Stakeholders’ meeting with the state’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in February 2024, they agreed to allow the status quo to remain the same till April 21st, 2024, when they are done with the mourning of their late king, so as to agree on the process of electing a new traditional ruler.
However, it is now left for the Mburubians to choose either to resolve their issue once and for all through a credible election or allow some busybody in their town to cause leadership interregnum in the land.
