-Demands apology
The people of Obor community in Orlu Local Government area of Imo state, comprising the Obor General Assembly, the Eze in council and youths of the area have demanded an unreserved apology from one of the citizens,Mr Marcel Onwuka and his accomplice, Mr Chike Oguike for their recent unwarranted attack and false accusations against the revered traditional ruler of the community,HRH Eze Dr. Obi Ralph Ekezie who they alleged to have forcefully acquired a portion of land belonging to Marcel Onwuka.
In response to a recent media report in an Owerri based tabloid, the people represented by 15 leaders or village heads issued a press statement requesting the fellow to retract the false accusation and also apologize to the traditional ruler and Obor Town Union, else the union will seek redress through lawful means.
In the statement issued and signed by Chief Cletus Okoro, President of the Town Union, Marcel Amadi Vice President and 12 other leaders, the people stated as follows:”The attention of Obor Town Union in Orlu L.G.A has been drawn to a report in an Owerri based newspaper, where it was alleged that the Traditional Ruler of Obor autonomous community HRH, Eze Dr. Obi Ralph Ekezie forcefully acquired a portion of land that belongs to one Marcel Onwuka an indigene of Umuduruke village, Obor.
“Having known the character, antecedents and unstable nature of the said Onwuka, we would not have bothered to respond to such false, frivolous and baseless report. But for the sake of the reading public, who may be misinformed and misled by the biased report, we decided to put the records straight ”.
Narrating what transpired between the community and the said Onwuka, the release stated ,”In 2009, when contract for the construction of Akatta/Umutanze/Obor/Atta road was awarded, part of the land was used as a burrow pit from where red mud was excavated for the filling of the road and requisite compensation paid to Obor Town Union, Marcel Onwuka instituted a law suit against the community, claiming that the area of the land from where red mud was excavated belongs to him. The case lasted for about 9 years before it was eventually struck out for lack of merit.
“Thereafter the community despite all the distractions,waste of time and resources occasioned by the litigations, extended an olive branch and made peace with Marcel but rather than give peace a chance, Marcel Onwuka initiated and unleashed media attack aimed at tarnishing the image of our revered and highly esteemed monarch and presenting him in bad light”.
The release revealed that Eze Dr Ekezie who had even before his ascendancy to the throne had not only donated some of his lands to the community but funded most developmental projects and can’t descend low to land grabbing as claimed in the report.It added that Eze Ekezie is a highly revered personality not only in Imo State but across the globe having paid his dues and attained great heights in his field of endeavour before he ascended the throne.
Continuing, it states, “Eze Dr. Ralph Ekezie, who holds a first class degree in Electrical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was the first Managing Director of Schlumberger before he set up his own oil servicing company, Drillog Petro Servicing Dynamics Ltd where he has been the Managing Director for the past 25 years”.
They view the media attack on their traditional ruler as an unreasonable ploy by mischief makers to seek attention as the height of irresponsibility and urge Marcel Onwuka and his cohorts to desist from fanning the embers of confusion and disunity.
They pledged unalloyed support and loyalty to the monarch, Eze Dr. Ralph Ekezie who they said has recorded monumental achievements and made the community proud in different ways and spheres.
