Indigenes of the Aba South Local Government Area, again today continued the protest against Chief NCNC Okoli who was recently sworn in as the Transition Committee chairman of the area.
Recall that while the swearing in of chief Okoli was going on at the Government House Umuahia, indigenes of LGA that felt Chief Okoli should not represent the area again,having served as a TC chairman for eight consecutive times, carried out a demonstration, locking down the Council area, with a coffin decorated with palm fronds placed at the entrance gate of the LGA headquarters, publicly rejecting Chief Okoli.
Our community Reporter who went to the council headquarters to get first hand information on the issue, gathered that the indigenes were unrelenting in their agitations even after their first day demonstration.
The indigenes insisted that chief NCNC Okoli must be removed immediately as the TC chairman, alleging that chief Okoli has been the only one chairing the Aba South LGA for 8 times now, even when he is not an indigene of the area.
The indigenes went as far putting the whole offices in the council area under lock and key, including the chairman’s office, refusing staff of the Local government, as well as the new chairman access to the council headquarters.
Our Reporter gathered that as at about 10am this morning, staff of the council were seen standing at the gate of the council headquarters, expressing bitterness over the outcome.
Interacting with an indigene who would not want his name disclosed, called the attention of the state government to the issue, saying Chief Okoli is not the only one in Aba South LGA, stating that another person who is an indigene can equally do the job chief Okoli was doing to constantly merit the position of a TC chairman.
He said the Indigenes of the area will not allow the position sleep off their hands again, describing the whole show as a daylight robbery on the part of the indigenes.
In his words” we will not allow this.This has been the trend. We are always ripped off our right. The indigenes are ready now to lead their affairs”.
“Whatever chief Okoli does for the government that makes him warrant this position for almost the eight time, we are equally ready to do same for the government and even more. We can also deliver the Governor in elections”, he added.
It took the intervention of some Ukwa la Ngwa stakeholders and men of the police force to calm the angered looking indigenes.
It was observed that some staff who could not wait for the drama to be over, left for their homes as it was raining heavily, while those that waited gained access into their offices by noon.
When a call was put across to the said chief Okoli, he busied the call, after a while, we got him on the phone to react to the issue, but he said, we should call him back in two hours time.
