The Mburubu Town Union may have finally apologized to the Igwe-Elect, High Chief Ozo Jerry Patrick Onukaibe, over allegations of paying N100 million to the Nkanu East Local Government Chairman, Hon Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, to secure the traditional rulership position.
The community town Union exonerated the council boss of any wrongdoing, saying the allegations were mere rumors being peddled around town by desperate individuals. The President General was quoted thus: “After due diligence investigation, the Mburubu Town Union says it has uncovered the truth about the alleged N100 million Naira kickback offered to the chairman of Nkanu East LGA, Hon Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, to endorse a traditional ruler for the community. While decrying the desperation of certain individuals just to tarnish the council chairman’s good image, MTU President General, Chief Emmanuel Edeh urged him to remain steadfast in discharging his official duties, even as he assured that the election of the next traditional ruler of the community will follow due process, devoid of rancor and bickering.”
Reacting, Igwe-Elect, High Chief Ozo Jerry Patrick Onukaibe said he thanks God that the truth has been told, adding that he has forgiven all those who accused him wrongly. He said the allegations were “unwarranted, unfounded, and childish.” Chief Onukaibe expressed shock over what he described as “provocative, malicious, and unsubstantiated publication,” adding that he has contributed immensely to the development of the community and has all it takes to merit an appointment into any office, including the Igweship stool as deemed fit by his community.
“The allegation of bribery against me is not only laughable and untrue but also quite baseless and unfounded. As a true son of the soil, and having worked assiduously to help the community, I have all it takes to serve my people at any capacity they deemed. I do not need to bribe anyone for the traditional stool. “I’ve seen many things on the internet but I don’t pay attention to those negative things,” he said. “Since 2023, a year and several months after our King, His Royal Highness Igwe Emmanuel Ezeh joined his ancestors, there has been pressure for me to contest for the Igweship of the community, but I told them I didn’t want to, but the pressure was too much so I told them I will think about it. Several months into time again, there was no one showing interest for the throne, and it would be senseless to leave the community without a King, I then made myself available to my people. I was officially presented to the local government chairman, as required by law, for onward notifications to the State Government. I never gave a bribe of N100m to the local government chairman, directly or in proxy. “You don’t bribe yourself into kingship. The people of the community spoke to me at length before I accepted. I heard so many things that I paid my way back to the kingship; I just laughed. They tried to defame my character; I’m not the kind of person who likes problems. “Everyone has their opinion about me but I don’t care but not to the extent of saying I bribed my way,” he added. Let it be re-emphasized here again that I, High Chief Ozo Jerry Patrick Onukaibe, did not, will not, and will never need to bribe anyone for the Igweship stool of Mburubu.
