By Ibezim Samuel
The saying that truth is like a moon that creeps out in the night came to the fore in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo state recently when the immediate Local Government Chairman of Nwangele LGA, Chief Ezekiel E. Chukwukere alias “I know this man” was exonerated from false accusations that have brought his being banished with his entire family for two (2) years by his community, Umuawuoke in Amaigbo Nwangele LGA.
Trouble started for him on 8th of April, 2011, being the eve of National Assembly Election at about 8.30pm. That day thugs armed to the tooth stormed his house with about four (4) Jeeps and started shooting sporadically while he was having political meeting with PDP members and pastors that came to pray for him. After the shooting four persons lied dead while many others sustained bullet wounds, with the kidnapping of the attached Civil Defence Officer, Mr Nonye Ejiogu, in his house as he was the only LGA Chairman in Imo State that operated from his village as other Chairmen lived in Owerri. Continuing with the story, he said that immediately the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), in Amaigbo learnt of the attack, he rushed to the scene with his team but was also attacked and narrowly escaped as his new Hillux vehicle was burnt to its skeleton by the armed thugs.
Luckily for Chukwukere, the darkness that enveloped his house saved him from being killed and then Governor Ikedi Ohakim sent security team from Owerri that came to his rescue and helped take the wounded casualties to various hospitals in the state. After the incident according to Chukwukere, he had a meeting with his executive councilors where they agreed to pay N500,000 each to the victims but couldn’t realize it as Governor Okorocha emerged and placed embargo on the council’s account and that of the state government even before taking oath of office. Also, Governor Ikedi Ohakim paid a visit to his house and promised to pay N500,000 each to the relatives of the victims which he couldn’t fulfill before leaving the office. It was only Senator Hope Uzodinma that gave N100,000 each to the relatives of the victims, Chukwukere said.
However, Chief Chukwukere disclosed that the incident worsened when some rumour peddlers went about saying that he had collected the victim’s money and absconded from the village even when he left his village as a result of threats to his life and refused to pick calls so as to safeguard his life. He said the rumour-mongers succeeded in him and family being wrongly banished from communicating with the entire village until he redeems the money which he is not aware of. He said that the meted punishment on him by his people made him to stay away from his village for two years as he could not imagine the traumatic experience of staying in his community without talking to his people.
Happily, “I know this man” as he is fondly called said that he heaved sigh of relief on 10th of July, 2013, when his community lifted the embargo on him after thoroughly investigating and confirming that he received no money but instead, rather spent his in paying for the bill of the hospitalized ones. He said that it wasn’t easy for him as he petitioned many bodies over his situation including his party, PDP and Amaigbo Progressive Union (APU). He swiftly expressed his disappointment with many PDP leaders that abandoned him in his bad period but promised to forgive them as a child of God. He however called on PDP to come to the rescue of the victims as his people sacrificed much for the party by being the only LGA in Orlu zone that voted massively for PDP in 2011. He reminded PDP that they doled out amounts of money to flood victims in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGA even when life was not lost and wondered why they would abandon his people. He finally thanked God for vindicating him but asked the rumour peddlers to repent or face the wrath of God.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of Umuagwoke Village National Union, Amaigbo in Nwangele LGA, Hon AC Olewunne confirmed the story and said that they wrongfully did it out of annoyance after losing their loved ones and were misinformed. He however, lambasted PDP for abandoning Umuagwoke Community and informed that his people have threatened to leave PDP enmasse as the party is no longer reliable. He finally wished Hon Chukwukere well and asked him to continue fighting for his people.
