Abia ALGON chairman removed for allegedly questioning procurement of vehicles for elected chairmen by ‘cabal’

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area, Hon. Michael Ibe Nwoke, was Friday, removed from office as the Abia Chapter Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) for questioning the procurement of vehicles for his colleagues by unknown persons in the state.

The development came barely three days after Nwoke, who is the chairman of the Obingwa home council of the state governor, Dr. Okezie ikpeazu, had queried why those he referred to as ‘them’ should purchase vehicles for democratically-elected local government functionaries.

Why his query drew the ire of his colleagues who mobilized into action.

In removing Nwoke from the Abia ALGON, the other 16 local government chairmen said his action was capable of igniting disharmonious and acrimonious relationship within the polity.

In a statement issued in Umuahia and endorsed by the 16 local government chairmen Friday which was made available to newsmen, they said that Nwoke did not consult with them before issuing a statement where he alleged that his life was under threat.

Nwoke had on September 7, 2021, raised the alarm that some unscrupulous elements were after his life and office because he “queried why the purchase of vehicles for Local Government Chairmen and Deputies should come from them in a democratic setting.”

Nwoke released the statement after his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly over a fund earmarked for an event which has nothing to do with him or his office.

In the statement titled; “Threat to Life and Office,” Nwoke alleged that efforts were being made by some persons to ensure that “Local Government Chairmen not loyal to their cabal will not succeed, including the state ALGON Chairman.” It read:

“It has come to my knowledge that some unscrupulous persons have decided to continue to tow the illegitimate path despite calls to quit. It remains unfortunate that some persons have decided not to rest until Local Governments in Abia become a laughing stock.

“Recall that I was invited to the Department of State Service, DSS, a week ago for questioning on a security fund earmarked for an event that I wasn’t privy to. On return from the invite, I issued a statement informing the general public the reason for the invite and warned those behind it to leave my name or office out of unscrupulous activities. These same elements have continued undeterred and have now considered threat as a new way of silencing me.

“As I write, my houses both in Aba and the village are under close monitoring while I issue this statement from an undisclosed location. This however, poses a serious threat to my entire family.

“The same people have focused on ensuring that Local Government Chairmen not loyal to their cabal will not succeed, including the state ALGON Chairman, and they go about bragging and issuing unnecessary threats.

“These same persons ensured I was illegally removed as Abia State ALGON Chairman sometime ago without recourse to the constitution. Their plot didn’t see the light of day and they have continued in their plans. Now, they are threatening fire and brimstone because I queried why the purchase of vehicles for Local Government Chairmen and Deputies should come from them in a democratic setting like ours.

“Will they also defend these actions when the chips are down?

“These reasons stated above which I have over times queried have led to threats on my life and office and I wish to let the general public, security agencies and Abians know.

“May I also remind them that as constitutionally elected Chairmen, the Local Government, as an independent arm of government, is expected to manage its resources without undue interference.”

Nwoke’s nebulous statement stirred the hornet’s nest as top Abia local government operatives swung into a flurry of condemnation of the erstwhile ALGON chairman.

The first to react were the Local Government Vice Chairmen who dissociated themselves from what they called “Media attacks by ALGON Chairman against State Government ” and for “divulging of Local Government official procedure.

In their swift response on September 8, 2021, the Vice Chairmen issued a statement thus:

“The Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen, Abia State Chapter has Condemned and Dissociated themselves from the press Statement issued by the ALGON Chairman of Abia State and Executive Chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area Hon. Michael Ibe Nwoke.

“The 17 Deputy Chairmen of the various Local Government Areas of Abia State frown at the Continuous divulging of Local Government official procedures and policies by the ALGON Chairman.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we were not even involved by the Leadership of ALGON as regards to Vehicle purchase; to that effect, the Deputy Chairmen stands by the decision of the State Government towards the welfare of the Local Government Administration in the state and vows to continue to support the policies and programs of the State Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.

“We hereby pass Vote of Confidence on the Administration of the Abia State Government under the Leadership of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu,”

The document was signed by all the 17 Vice Chairmen of the Local Government areas.

The next in the line was the local government legislatures. They, too, slammed Nwoke for attacking the state government..

On September 9, 2021, they came out with their own statement, endorsed by the Leaders of the 17 local government legislatures which was very similar to that of the Local Government Vice Chairmen, in this fashion:

“The Abia State Council Leaders of Nigeria (ACLON) as part of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Abia State Chapter, having seen the media attacks by the State ALGON chairman wish to dissociate themselves from these attacks against the State Government.

“We hereby condemn in its entirety the press Statement issued by the ALGON Chairman of Abia State and Executive Chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area, Hon. Michael Ibe Nwoke, in the said press release.

“The 17 council leaders of the various LGAs of Abia State are not in support of the continued divulging of Local Government official procedures and policies by the ALGON State Chairman.

“We are totally unaware of the proceedings as it concerns the Vehicle purchase, as the leadership of ALGON has continued to relegate us to the background even in such an official/legislative arrangements and to that effect, the council leaders of Abia State supports the decision of the State Government towards the welfare of the Local Government Administration in the state and pledges to continually support the policies and programs of the State Government ably led by our promise keeping Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, especially the One ward, One project initiative which he promised to all the Council wards just few weeks ago.

“We hereby want to use this medium to pass a Vote of Confidence on the Administration of the Abia State Government under the Leadership of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and also to reassure the Governor and the government of the day that Abia State Councillors are SOLIDY behind the government policies that are geared towards the betterment of the lives and welfare of both the councillors and their constituents.”

Nwoke’s colleagues on Friday, October 10, 2021, drove the nail into the coffin when they unanimously passed a voteof no confidence in him and subsequently removed him as the Abia ALGON chairman. It brought to the climax, the surging rage against the embattled Obingwa Chairman. They also made their position via a statement in Umuahia where they denied “any underhandedness in the process leading to the purchase” of the vehicles under reference.

Their statement read:

“The Local Government Councils in the State are playing their legal roles and have been partnering with the State Government in delivering good governance to our people at the grassroots. Therefore under no guise can anyone allege that Abia State Local Government Councils will ‘become a laughing stock.’

“In the Local Government system in Abia State, we have never experienced any form of ‘cabalism.’ All the Members of ALGON have been treated equally irrespective of the areas of the State they come from. Therefore, it is false for our chairman to talk about ‘cabal’ within the LG system in Abia State.

“On the issue of purchasing vehicles…, we have never doubted the modus operandi for the procurement of the said vehicles. We have not seen any underhandedness in the process leading to the purchase. We have complete confidence in the process leading to their procurement and subsequent delivery.  

“On the management of the Local Government resources, we refute the allegations of meddlesomeness by any external body.

“From the above, it is, indeed, very clear that the press release earlier made by our chairman was unilaterally made without the recourse, approval and authority from the sixteen (16) Local Government Chairmen.  

“Therefore, having viewed with great concern these unwholesome activities of Hon. Michael Ibe Nwoke, as highlighted above, which have fallen short of standard of the mandates of his office, we do hereby resolve as follows:

“We pass a vote of no confidence on him as the ALGON Chairman.

“We hereby unanimously vote for his removal from office as Abia State ALGON Chairman with immediate effect

“We will meet and elect a new Abia State ALGON chairman that will have the support of all members of the association for collective and smooth running of activities of Abia State ALGON.

“That Hon. Michael Ibe Nwoke is mandated to hand over all documents relating to the office of the Abia State ALGON Chairman to the Secretariat of the Association.

“That, henceforth, nobody in the state should have any dealing with him in the name of Abia ALGON, as such actions will be viewed as a nullity.

“We want to through this medium doubtlessly emphasize our unflinching support to the Kinetic Government and administration of the State and to further confirm our satisfaction in the decisions and policies of this administration which, in our humble view, are crafted and executed in utmost good faith and for the welfare of the generality of the people of the State.

“Finally, we condemn in totality the said press release by our (now removed) chairman as the issues raised are provocatively distasteful and can ignite disharmonious and acrimonious relationship within the polity. As leaders and stakeholders in the state, our actions and utterances should be one that should engender peace and love in the State and not anarchy and chaos.”

However, the former ALGON Chairman, was in the same statement made available to newsmen Friday as having “pledged his support to the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu saying,”  

“There is no controversy; there is no issue. One of the mandates of all of us, the 17 Local Government Chairmen, is to support Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration and that is what we are doing. So, there is no controversy; there is no issue. We are one Body,” the statement added.