The immediate past Chairman, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), Prince Isaac Umejuru, has come under fire for failing to pay a ₦16 million debt owed to Mr. Ajie O. Obulor, an indigene of ONELGA within the period he was the council boss.
Mr. Obulor was contracted to supply tricycles used for an empowerment program initiated by Umejuru’s administration months ago.
Despite the substantial financial allocations received by ONELGA during Umejuru’s tenure, this debt remains unpaid, raising questions about fiscal management under his leadership. Efforts to contact Prince Umejuru for comments have been unsuccessful, as he has consistently declined to respond to inquiries.
In defense of his superior, Prince Umejuru’s personal assistant on media acknowledged the existence of the debt but downplayed its significance, stating that accruing debts has been a norm in the administration of the LGA over the years. He cited previous chairmen, such as Hon. Vincent Job, who allegedly left office with over ₦100 million in unpaid obligations, including debts from purchasing cars for councillors .
This revelation has ignited public outrage among ONELGA residents, who are increasingly disillusioned with the pattern of financial irresponsibility exhibited by their leaders. Reacting to the development on various media platforms, many residents and indigenes of ONELGA have expressed a firm stance against allowing Prince Umejuru to hold any public office in the future, citing a breach of trust and a failure to fulfill financial commitments as primary concerns.
