The group in a press statement signed by its Director General, Eze Monday Kenneth, tagged the allegations, "The lies of the late Augustine Okwor Family against Ebonyi State government, Being the text of a press statement issued by Ebonyi First Vanguard in Abakaliki on 8th October, 2024), read in full:
1. The attention of Ebonyi First Vanguard has been drawn to the baseless media blackmail levied by the family of the late traditional ruler of Nkalaha Community in Ishielu LGA in league with other unpopular beneficiaries of the old order on media spaces against Ebonyi Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe, who has refused to flinch in his commitment to transparently implement the democratic agenda of Ebonyi People's Charter of Needs administration led by His Excellency, Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
2. This press statement has become necessary to put the records straight and prevent the intended deception of the gullible Ebonyi masses by unscrupulous elements who resent the termination of injustice and tyranny on which they thrived and the nascent wind of positive change which the Nwifuru's administration symbolizes for Ebonyi people.
3. The unsubstantiated accusations that the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Ebonyi State, Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe, a gentleman known for contentment, extorted money from a dead man and another living traditional ruler is far-fetched, unfounded and smacks of bad faith. Ebonyi First Vanguard hereby challenges the late Okwor family of the Nkalaha Community to show proof of their criminal allegations against the commissioner or tender an unreserved public apology to Hon. Uchenna Igwe and Ebonyi people for that infantile attempt to impeach the character of an innocent Ebonyian.
4. To put the records straight, Ebonyi First Vanguard, hereby states with documentary evidences that:
(a) The late Ezeogo Augustine Okwor was dethroned by the High Court of Ebonyi State sitting in Ezzamgbo Judicial Division presided over by His Lordship, Honourable Justice H. A. Njoku, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, 11th June 2015 in suit number HK/14/2009 between Chief Michael Ominyi and Thompson Ebe & 7 others.
(b) That the said judgement declared Chief Thompson Ebe as the "duly elected Eze of Nkalaha Autonomous Community and ordered for unencumbered recognition of Chief Thompson Ebe.
(c) That purported recognition of late Augustine Okwor as Ezeogo of Nkalaha Community in contempt of the judgement of the court of competent jurisdiction was procured through deceit and misrepresentation of facts to the previous administration.
(d) That the anomalous recognition of the late Augustine Okwor was continuously protested by the people of the Nkalaha Community to the point that the previous administration of Ebonyi State which recognized the late Augustine Okwor had to set up an Executive Council Committee chaired by Dr. Chris Achi to look into the Nkalaha Eze tussle and make recommendations to the administration in 2019.
(e) The Dr Chris Achi-led EXCO committee on the Nkalaha Eze tussle established that Chief Thompson Ebe was the winner of the Nkalaha Eze election held on 6th December 2008 and recommended the withdrawal of both the staff of office and certificate of recognition given to late Augustine Okwor; and the presentation of Chief Thompson Ebe to the former Governor for recognition.
(f) On 28th August 2023, the people of the Nkalaha Community wrote to the present Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, demanding the implementation of both the High Court judgement and recommendations of the EXCO committee on Nkalaha Community Ezeogo seat. Governor Francis Nwifuru directed the Executive Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Hon. John O. Onwe, to investigate the matter and revert. The Ishielu council chairman set up a 7-man committee chaired by Barr Augustine Owo. On 02/11/2023, this committee, like the High Court of Ebonyi State and the Ebonyi State Exco committee led by Dr Chris Achi, recommended the withdrawal of the recognition of Augustine Okwor as Ezeogo of Nkalaha and the presentation of both staffs of office and certificate of recognition to Chief Thompson Ebe, the Eze - elect of Nkalaha Autonomous Community.
(g) On 20th June 2024, the people of Nkalaha Community wrote to the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, notifying him of the unfortunate departure on 24th May 2024 of the embattled Augustine Okwor and praying to for the presentation of staff of office and certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Nkalaha Autonomous Community to Chief Thompson Ebe. This culminated in the recognition of Ezeogo Thompson Ebe as the traditional ruler of Nkalaha Autonomous Community, alongside other traditional rulers-elect of other communities in Ebonyi State on 1st October 2024!
(5) The other allegation that Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe, stopped the construction of the building graciously approved for the late Augustine Okwor is another lie from the pit of hell. Investigations show that the building project is ongoing and has progressed more than those of many living traditional rulers in many communities of Ebonyi State. The contractor handling that particular project is alive and can attest that no stop order has been issued to him by the commissioner or any other person or authority.
Ebonyi First Vanguard condemns the lies levied against Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Uchenna Stephen Igwe, for implementing the directives of Governor Francis Nwifuru for respect to the judgement of the court of competent jurisdiction and the cravings of the people of Nkalaha Autonomous Community who elected Chief Thompson Ebe as their Eze on 6th December 2008. Peddlers of these unfounded allegations are charged to repent and tender unreserved apologies to Hon. Uchenna Stephen Igwe, who has remained blameless in his conduct in these matters.
CONCLUSION: Ebonyi First Vanguard hereby congratulates Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on the successful democratization of over 40 Ebonyi communities and the inauguration of their respective traditional rulers as witnessed during the last Ebonyi creation anniversary celebration. The vanguard charges all Ebonyi people to allow the corporate interest of Ebonyi State and the common good to prevail over their private emotions and to cooperate with the Ebonyi People's Charter of Needs administration for enhanced delivery of peace, justice and developmental projects and programmes.
*Eze Monday Kenneth*
_*(Director-general, Ebonyi First Vanguard.)*_
