The crisis rocking the legislative arm of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi has worsened.
NATIONAL POST learnt that 11 out of 12 ward Councillors have signed their signatories to impeach the Council Chairman, Hon. Ogbofia Ikechukwu.
Fresh trouble erupted at the weekend over alleged 100 million Naira budgeted for the renovation of the legislative chambers.
The lawmakers are aggrieved that the complex had remained in disrepair.
The councillors had earlier accused the council chairman of exhibiting high-handedness, abuse of power and political intolerance against them, including political stakeholders in the local government.
They enumerated some of their grievances against the Council Chairman to include loss of relevance, exclusion from governance, communication breakdown, neglect of development projects, among others.
According to them, "It is regrettable and unfortunate that the chairman transferred ward mobilization duties to his Special Assistants, rendering us powerless in our constituencies. Apart from that, we are routinely ignored during ward and community meetings.
"The chairman in his usual manner refuses to answer or return calls, even in emergencies. Despite the Governor's directives on Christmas rice distribution, the Chairman grossly violated his orders, with us and other communities receiving less than half of what was approved.
"The governor’s youth program (FON) and resources have been concentrated in the chairman’s ward, Abaomege.
“Abaomege ward monopolizes registration buses while other wards are marginalized. In over a year now, only the chairman’s ward has benefited from government projects despite a N12 billion budget.
"Despite multiple promises by the Chairman to provide us with a legislative bus, none has been provided, while the chairman enjoys luxury vehicles. The Councilors’ 3-bedroom bungalow projects in the 2025 budget remain untouched till date.
"As of today, we are owed five months of legislative votes (LV) stipends. It is also disheartening that no councilor has delivered any infrastructure project, unlike their predecessors.
"We are also excluded from event committees and often embarrassed by the chairman’s aides. Our remuneration is so meager and irregular, with minimal transport allowances even for official functions.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Councillors have officially forwarded a strongly worded petition to the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru and other major political stakeholders in the State expressing their deep dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Hon. Ogbofia Ikechukwu, the council Chairman.
