EBONYI State Governor Martin Elechi on Thursday announced that his government has withdrawn
titles from two traditional leaders and two village heads in the state.
The affected are Eze Mathias Nnaji of Nkalagu, Eze Michael Egbo of Amaezu, Prince Benjamin Onwa, regent of Umuhuali and Prince Augustine Okwor, the regent of Nkalaha, all from Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
The decision was made public in a press release from the office of the governor’s press secretary, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, who said the removed leaders had engaged in sabotaging government projects in their communities.
“The traditional rulers and regents were sabotaging government efforts to stem organised decimation of Nigeria Cement factory (Nigercem), Nkalagu.
“Government views with embarrassment attempts by the traditional rulers to sabotage its effort to reclaim Nigercem from Eastern Bulkcem company which was privatised in 2002 and which in turn sold it to Ibeto Group,’’ the statement read.
Controversy between Eastern Bulkcem and the state government had exited since 2009, when Eastern Bulkcem dragged the Ebonyi to courts in Enugu and Abakaliki for revoking its Certificate of Occupancy.
The courts however declined to nullify the order as prayed by the core-investor.
According to the government, neither the seller nor the buyer of Nigercem notified the State Government and people of Ebonyi as strategic partners in the business before the sale.
The government also said in its statement that it has used every available opportunity to brief the people of the area and the state about developments in the company.
“The State Government, therefore, regrets that in spite of its efforts, some compromised traditional rulers from Ishielu colluded with agents of Ibeto Group to disparage her and sabotage its efforts to stem the organised decimation of Nigercem,’’ it stated.
The government directed the affected traditional rulers and regents to immediately vacate their stools and cease to represent or parade themselves as traditional rulers of the affected communities.
They were also ordered to hand over their certificates of recognition and staff of office to the chairman of Ishielu Local Government Council within 48 hours.