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The conflict between the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Hon. Ogbofia Ikechukwu, and the legislative arm has taken a new turn.
Eleven out of the twelve ward Councillors have now endorsed their signatures to impeach the Council Chairman.
The lawmakers are dissatisfied that, despite a budget allocation of N100 million, the legislative complex remains in a state of disrepair.
The councillors previously accused the council chairman of exercising authoritarianism, abusing power, and showing political intolerance towards them and other political stakeholders in the local government.
They listed several grievances against the Council Chairman, including a loss of relevance, exclusion from governance, a breakdown in communication, and neglect of development projects, among others.
They stated, “It is regrettable and unfortunate that the chairman has delegated ward mobilization responsibilities to his Special Assistants, leaving us powerless in our constituencies. Moreover, we are frequently ignored during ward and community meetings.
“The chairman, as is his custom, refuses to answer or return calls, even in emergencies. Despite the Governor’s instructions regarding Christmas rice distribution, the Chairman severely disregarded those orders, resulting in our communities receiving less than half of what was approved.
“The governor’s youth program (FON) and resources have been disproportionately allocated to the chairman’s ward, Abaomege.
“Abaomege ward monopolizes registration buses, while other wards are sidelined. For over a year now, only the chairman’s ward has benefited from government projects, despite a total budget of N12 billion.
“Despite numerous assurances from the Chairman regarding the provision of a legislative bus, none has been delivered, while the chairman enjoys the use of luxury vehicles. The Councilors’ three-bedroom bungalow projects in the 2025 budget remain unaddressed to this day.
“Currently, we are owed five months of legislative votes (LV) stipends. It is also disheartening that no councilor has completed any infrastructure project, unlike their predecessors.
“We are also excluded from event committees and frequently face embarrassment from the chairman’s aides. Our compensation is minimal and irregular, with inadequate transport allowances even for official functions.”
DAILY POST has learned that the Councillors have officially submitted a strongly worded petition to the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and other key political stakeholders in the State, expressing their profound dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Hon. Ogbofia Ikechukwu, the council Chairman.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main grievances of the Councillors against the Chairman?
The Councillors have raised issues including exclusion from governance, communication breakdown, neglect of development projects, and a loss of relevance among others.
What actions have the Councillors taken against the Chairman?
The Councillors have signed a petition to impeach the Chairman and have formally expressed their dissatisfaction to the State Governor and other political stakeholders.
