A group of youths from Mbaocha Autonomous community in the Umuahia North Local Goverment of Abia State, took to the street on Friday to protest the election of Chief Vincent Nwankwo, as the traditional ruler of the Community.
The group led by Ugbaja Clement, claimed that Nwankwo who was presented to the Umuahia North Local Government as the Eze-elect of the community did not come from the clan due to produce the traditional ruler at the moment.
He said it was the right of Umuakpu village to produce the King after the demise of the first traditional ruler of the Community Late Eze Rufus Ohaeri, who hails from Ohokobe village in the order of seniority.
The group displayed placards with the following: it is the right of Umuakpu to produce the king, our traditional stood is not for sale.
"Mbaocha clan is not for sale, we want a traditional leader and not a stooge".
A titled chief from the clan back Chief Boniface Ikediuwa, backed the youths in their agitation.
But in swift response Chief Obinna Onyebuchi, dismissed the claims of the youths as acts of ignorance.
He said the the Eze-elect was selected in line with a due process screening exercise conducted for candidates from Umuohu Okpula whose right it was to produce the traditional ruler.
He revealed that three candidates including Chief Boniface Ikediuwa, Chief Rexford Ihechi Oharie, Chief Vincent Otuochere Nwankwo were screened for the vacant traditional stool.
He named four villages in Mbaocha autonomous community in the other of seniority as follows Ohokobe, Umuohu Okpula, Umuafia and Umuezeocha,
Onyebuchi pointed out that the traditional stool of the community rotates among the villages in the other of seniority, adding that Ohokobe being first among the village produced the first traditional ruler.
He said, "A committee was set up and proper screening was carried out to find the best among the candidates. The result of the screening committee showed that Chief Vincent Otuochere Nwankwo was the most suitable qualified and he emerged the best after scoring the highest score point.
In a statement made available to our correspondent the palace securetary Uche Ugele, urged the the Transitional Committee chairman of Umuahia North Local Goverment, Chief Lucky Akabuike, to expedite other processes for the Eze-elect to be given the staff of office by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
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