- I’ll intervene, Resolve Impasse — Okowa
The rift between Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien and the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Council, Kelvin Ezenyili over the refusal of the latter to release the accumulated 5% stipend of monthly allocation meant for government-recognized royal fathers, rages on.
The New Diplomat learnt that the monthly statutory 5% allocation of Oshimili South Local Government Council which was usually deducted and paid to Obi Chike Edozien over the years, was suspended upon presenting a staff of office to another traditional ruler, the Akor of Oko in the Council Area. The new monarch was said to wrote the chairman of the Council to demand for his share of the money.
Obi Edozien, our correspondent gathered, had protested against government’s recognition of the Akor as a traditional ruler and dragged the government and the new monarch to court in 2014. While the matter remained in the court, the then Chief Judge of the State, Justice Marshall Mukoro (rtd) was said to have ordered the suspension of the release of the 5% allocation to Obi Chike Edozien in 2019, ostensibly awaiting the outcome of the matter in the court.
However, upon assuming office as the executive chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Council on March 6, 2020, Obi Edozien was said to have written to the Council to effect the release of the accumulative fund to the Asagba in Council, a request which the Local Government boss rejected.
Following the failure of the Council Chairman, Kelvin Ezenyili, to restore his entitlements, the Asaba monarch last week, announced severance of all economic, social and political ties with the Council.
The New Diplomat learnt that the royal father announced the immediate repossession of all properties belonging to Asaba community currently being used by the council either as source of revenue or enhancement of its administrative process, including the popular Ogbeogonogo Modern Market, Oshimili Arcade, Ogbeolie Market, the Council Quarters, Asagba Market, among other revenue yielding avenues being exploited by the Council.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Asaba recently, the Asagba of Asaba who spoke through the Secretary to the Palace, Chief Patrick Ndili, disclosed that the decision to severe relationship with the Council was due to the failure of the Local Government Council to remit the 5% monthly stipends meant for government-gazzeted royal fathers in the area.
Ndili who is the Ihonor of Asaba further disclosed that the palace had written several demand letters to the Council boss for the release of the monarch’s entitlements but to no avail, adding that the palace was left with no choice than to put in place sanctions to express its resentment.
He said: “That the Asaba community shall henceforth take over the performance of all duties assigned to the local government council is refuse disposal, clearing of drainages etc within the Asaba town.
“That no business or property owned or operating within Asaba shall pay any form of revenue levied by the Oshimili South Local Government Council,” Ndili said while reading the resolutions.
The monarch further ordered the “suspension of all collaborations whether customary, political, administrative and social between local government council and Asaba community.”
“To this end, all bonafide Asaba sons and daughters shall cease forthwith from attending any meeting, ceremony, function and events organized by the Oshimili South Local Government Council”, the monarch ordered.
Reacting to the position of the royal father, the Executive chairman of the Council Kelvin Ezenyili, noted that the Asagba of Asaba has no power to take over the markets and other economic structures, adding that there is no law that empowers the monarch to implement any such sanction against the Council.
“They don’t have the right to take over the market, with what law? It is not even possible for the Federal Government to do because they have to pass through a lot of processes.
“However, we are still consulting, and we have not held meeting as a council over the issue. They met before they took the resolution, we will also meet and come up with our decisions.
“Like you know, the issue of non-remittance of the 5 percent predates my administration because I came on board in March this year,” he said.
However, while speaking during 30th coronation anniversary of the monarch, the State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa assured that he was going to intervene and resolve the impasse between the Oshimili Local Government Council and the palace.
“No matter the issues at the moment, we are going to find a peaceful way of resolving the issues between the Asaba community and the local government council.
“It will not be in the best interest of the council neither will it be in the best interest of the community that both will be at loggerheads.
“So, I am going to step into it and it is my prayer and hope that we will quickly settle all the issues. I plead with you His Royal Majesty to give us a little time to resolve the issues,” he said.
It would be recalled that the decision to suspend the release of the 5% allocation to the Asaba monarch was sequel to the order of the then Chief Judge of the State, Justice Marshall Umukoro following a motion on notice filed by His Royal Majesty, Obi Anthony Osidi Onwuka, the Akor of Oko Anala, in Asaba High Court.
