By Imo Jonathan
As the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, continues his effort at fighting crime and sanitizing his state, the news of a certain individual who is undergoing trial for economic crime trying to become an Igwe under his regime should be a call for concern for him.
There are plethora of lawsuits, court injunctions, Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) indictments, pending criminal cases trailing the foremost candidate contesting for the highly revered position of Ezeokpoko II of Oba.
Seven years after the death of Ezeokpoko I of Oba, Igwe P.C. Ezenwa, Oba, a frontline town in Idemili South Local Government, Anambra State, is yet to have another Igwe. This dilemma is not as a result of the absence of qualified candidates. It is in fact, expected that a community such as Oba, who boasts of the powerful and influential will easily pick the best among a handful candidates to fill this all-important position.
The reverse is however the case as the high standard of integrity, discipline, accountability and piety set by the former monarch for over 42 years of his reign is on the verge of being smeared and thrown overboard.
The man that have done everything and is willing to do more, no matter how ungodly, to become the next Ezeokpoko, should never have been in the discussion of becoming the next Oba Monarch, if the same scale that was used to select the late Igwe were also being used for the next. How could a man who threw decency to the gutters in the process of wealth acquisition, be given the responsibility of leading a town, such as Oba?
Engr. Augustine Chinedum Emelobe is not a man that can be trusted with the finances of a community like Oba, who boasts of uncountable men with deep pockets. Here is a man that connived with the defunct manager of Oba Community Bank and helped himself with over a hundred million naira loan without due process. This case which is just one out of a handful of others is still with the EFCC.
In 2024, EFCC intensified investigation in his involvement in financial crimes and it is now a latent issue that will lead to a disgraceful debacle not only for the good people of Oba but the entire Anambra State, where the Governor is working so hard to restore sanity.
As it stands now, this character is hiding from the EFCCand want to quickly emerge as Igwe of Oba, Anambra State, so that he can gain some kind immunity under the Igwe gab. Which in effect is to make EFCC scared of being accused in the future of undermining Igbo tradition. Unfortunately, Igbo tradition abhors criminality and does not subscribe to a may who has character deficiencies leading their community. Especially, with the reputation of Governor Soludo as an internationally recognized personality it will be a shame for such to happen under him.
The culture of accountability and moderation sustained by the former Monarch may well be on their way to the gutter if a man indicted by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) testimony and evidences of tax evasion and tax certificate forgery is allowed to assume the highest traditional office in the land. Furthermore, evidences abound of the EFCC indicting him of under-declaration of assets/turnover in order to pay lower.
The days of criminals, fraudsters and evil men using the immunity provided by traditional leadership were long gone and people of Oba should not encourage this obvious rascality. In line with the holy book’s submission that the people rejoice when the righteous is in power, the indigenes of Oba should not invite this fire to their bosom. The essence of this article is not to tarnish image but to furnish the people with information they might not be aware of. From his days at Chevron, where he was forced to resign after an indictment to the management of his company, Northbrige Energy Ltd, one thing has been consistent about Engr. Augustine Chinedum Emelobe: his intent to use his position to cheat, defraud unsuspecting people and the desire to help himself with public funds. This contravenes everything good leadership stands for, which is selflessness, accountability, courage among others.
The state government through the commission for traditional rulers has halted the process of the Igweship selection citing several breach of due process, including an attempt to amend the Oba town constitution and the candidate’s non-membership of the Ozo Society of Okuzu Village in Oba Idemili.
It important that His Excellency, Professor Chukwuma Soludo intensifies his effort to rid Anambra state of criminal minds by stepping in to ensure that a man with such character deficiencies does not become an Igwe under his watch.
Great Imo Jonathan is a human rights activist and public affairs analyst, you can reach him via greatimosoundmind@gmail.com
