By Raymond Ozoji
Contrary to media reports against Honourable Amaka Obi that her nomination as Idemili-South TC Chairman was rejected by stakeholders in the council area, the traditional ruler of Alor kingdom in Idemili-South Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty Igwe Mark-Anthony Chinedu Okonkwo, Ezedioramma iii of Alor kingdom, has debunked such notion saying categorically that nobody rejected Amaka Obi ‘s nomination.
Igwe Okonkwo who gave an eye witness account of what transpired at the Idemili-South council headquarters Ojoto last Saturday while speaking exclusively with this journalist, said himself, Igwe Nnobi and Igwe Ojoto were present at the stakeholders meeting that preceded the selection cum nomination process.
He said that the nomination was done in an orderly manner devoid of rancour and in accordance with the governor’s directives, all the contestants for TC Chairmanship position were asked to move to the field for the selection proper.
He said Amaka Obi was in the field for the contest and two others but some contestants according to him, boycotted the selection process for reasons best known to them.
According to him, in the end, Amaka Obi carried the day with 36 votes while the two other candidates who contested the TC Chairmanship position with her got 21 and 12 votes respectively, adding that there was no hanky panky in the selection process and everybody accepted the outcome.
The monarch who stated that there was no document signed by anybody to show that they rejected Amaka Obi’s nomination, maintained that the process was transparent.
Igwe Okonkwo also pointed out that the stakeholders who attended the meeting which heralded the election, unanimously agreed that there was nothing like zoning of appointment positions in Idemili-South and that any choice of TC Chairman must be someone with capacity, political clout as well as a grassroot mobilizer irrespective of the town or community the person comes from in Idemili-South.
The traditional ruler therefore maintained that Amaka Obi should continue in office as the TC Chairman of Idemili-South because there are eloquent testimonials of her developmental milestones in the council area.
Igwe Okonkwo who stated that one of the laudable projects Amaka Obi executed that was very dear to him, was the renovation of the abandoned dilapidated traditional rulers’ house in the council headquarters Ojoto.
He said Amaka Obi not only renovated the traditional rulers’ house but also invited the governor to commission it. That no TC Chairman in Idemili-South renovated the place except her.
He also described Amaka Obi as a grassroot mobilizer with capacity to lead Idemili-South to the next level of rural development.
