The Ogwashi-Uku Town Union (OTU) on Sunday mounted a strong rebuttal against a recent communiqué circulated by a faction of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), describing the group as “expired, criminally compromised, and completely without authority to speak for the people of Ogwashi-Uku.”
In a statement made available to journalists, OTU executives accused the ODA faction of attempting to provoke unrest and of being driven by self-interest after years of alleged betrayal and land racketeering.
The Town Union said the communiqué represented “a desperate attempt by fugitives and self-serving individuals to incite unrest after years of betrayal and land racketeering.”
The OTU stressed that traditional authority in Ogwashi-Uku remains with the Obi-in-Council and the monarch, and that the ODA had no legitimate standing in the matter.
“The ODA has no capacity within Ogwashi-Uku. Traditional authority in our kingdom rests with His Royal Majesty, Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, and members of the Obi-in-Council who are the recognized community chiefs. None of these chiefs or any lawful representatives of the people participated in this nonsensical communiqué or the purported town hall meeting,” the OTU said.
The Town Union further accused several signatories of the ODA communiqué of facing serious criminal allegations, and pointed to ongoing court proceedings.
According to the OTU, “Two of their key advisers — the so-called Secretary-General, Mazi Eluemuno Adigwe, and their Legal Adviser, Barrister Francis Okolie — are currently standing trial at the Federal High Court, Asaba, for terrorism and attempted murder after leading an armed attack on the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku at his Palace two years ago.”
The OTU added that two other ODA executives face murder charges and that one person linked to the group was recently convicted at the Federal High Court, Asaba.
The town union also accused the group of masterminding fraudulent land sales that allegedly deprived the kingdom of valuable holdings.
“These are the same people who presided over the fraudulent sale of hundreds of acres of Ogwashi-Uku land worth hundreds of millions of naira — land that rightfully belongs to the kingdom,” an OTU official added.
“The funds from those illegal sales were paid through the personal account of Barrister Francis Okolie. Now that the Obi has lawfully recovered these lands through court-backed processes, they are crying foul and trying to mislead the public.”
OTU said the ODA had long lost relevance, accusing the group of supporting separatist elements and failing to defend the kingdom’s interests when the land was being sold.
“They never protested when land was being sold fraudulently, nor when these separatists declared autonomy. It is only now, when the Obi has recovered the land for the rightful owners, that they are pretending to be defenders of the people,” the statement continued.
Warning that the ODA’s timing was dangerously provocative ahead of the sacred Ineh (New Yam) Festival, the Town Union vowed to resist any attempt to undermine peace during celebrations.
The OTU warned that the timing and tone of the ODA communiqué are dangerously provocative: Ogwashi-Uku is entering its sacred Ineh (New Yam) Festival — a time of thanksgiving, peace and unity. OTU executives said the ODA has previously endorsed parallel Ineh festivals and supported actions that led to attacks on the traditional ruler.
“We will hold anyone from the ODA personally and collectively responsible if they attempt to disrupt this sacred period or inflame communal tensions. Any attempt to disturb the peace during the Ineh Festival will be firmly resisted by the people of Ogwashi-Uku,” the Town Union declared.
Drawing a stark analogy, the OTU likened the ODA leadership to a false claimant intent on dividing the community. The OTU said: “Like the false mother who wanted the baby divided, these people prefer to destroy the kingdom because they have failed in their ambitions.”
The Town Union added that it would move to formally declare the ODA leadership persona non grata in Ogwashi-Uku, urging those involved to desist from acts likely to provoke a communal crisis.
“Ogwashi-Uku people see through their deceit. They have done absolutely nothing good for this community. Their time is over — they are expired cargo that belong in the dustbin of history,” the OTU executives said.
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