Mburubu People Accuse Prince Lawrence Ezeh of Using Thugs for Intimidation, Call on Governor Peter Mbah for Assistance and Caution Commissioner’s Actions”

Mburubu is a community located around Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The community is made up of 7 Villages which include: Umunafo, Umudara Uhuegu, Amachi, Amanatọ, Uhuegbe, Obinagu (25 families)

Uhuegbe village where Mr. Linus Igbudu originated from has 4 families namely: umunkwume, umuarum and ụmụchime. Umudara village is the place where the commissioner for Science and Technology, Prince Lawrence ozoemena Ezeh hails from and fortunately, where the ìgwè elect, Ọzo Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe has more supporters.

According to reports, prior to the grand finale, organised by the Mburubians, there was a threat of Intimidation for people not to attend the event at all for any reason, which was defied abruptly as they came to show their solidarity to their Ìgwè elect, Ọzo Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe.

After the program which took place on Saturday 3rd February 2024, the next morning being Sunday, February 4th, thugs sent by Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh, descended on the community members, stripping them naked and carting away their properties for going against their instructions.

Speaking with newsmen, the chairman of PDP in Mburubu Ward, Hon Egbo Stephen thanked God for saving his life, that of his family and other community members.

He stated that some of the villagers have run to other villages in search of safety.

“I thank God for my life.
” I was beaten to a stupor by some thugs sent by Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh for attending the grand finale of our ìgwè elect, ọzọ Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe. They had been warned earlier but we refused their Intimidation and attended the event as we unanimously chose him to lead us.

“It started on Friday when One Mr Ambrose Anobi used a metal gong to go round the villages telling people not to attend Ọzo Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe’s grand reception or face a penalty of ₦100,000 which they refused.”

” when we came back, they started attacking our people, especially the vulnerable. Some ran away to bushes, some were locked inside their houses while others ran to Ọzo Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe’s house where the law enforcement agency that arrived, came and saved them.”

” The security agencies wanted to arrest but were told not to do it as we are still one Mburubu, and making arrests of Mburubians isn’t part of the plans of our ìgwè elect.”

Hon Egbo went down the history line to state how Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh has been imposing candidates and leaders on them.

“Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh, the son of our late monarch, has been insisting on being the one who would produce his father’s successor.”

He has made it a must to be the sole person that appoints people for us into various positions that comes from the Government starting from councillorship down to President General, Neighbourhood watches, that even if there is any opposition, they will still be asked to respect him because of his father.”

“Prince Eze started this From Obinagu village when one Mr Orji Emmanuel was brought out by the community after screening to become our PG which Prince refused and brought out one Emmanuel Edeh despite all refusal from Obinagu and Mburubu as a whole, even when people were beaten at the local Government headquarters, he still led.

When it was the turn of Amanatọ to produce Councillor, Mrs Vicky Nwobodo, Benjamin Nwaumeanu, Abel Umeanu all contested but PRINCE Ezeh from nowhere, brought Chris Onyema who has never participated in our party activities to become councillor and when people reacted he said, no body will stop him from doing what he wants to do. Mr Chris Onyema later finished his first and second tenure.

“When it was Town Union presidency, which was the turn of Uhuegbe, one Mr Cornelius Okorie, Ọzo Kenneth Igbudu, Mr Calistus Chukwu all from Uhuegbe were contesting. Uhuegbe people wanted to screen them and bring the best candidate, but Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh came and vetoed, thus imposing Cornelius Okorie on them, they revolted and still calmed down for peace to reign.

“When it was the turn of Amachi Village to produce the current councillor, Prince Lawrence ozoemena Ezeh, went as far as Uhuegu to pick Innocent Ukpabia denying One Kingsley from Amachi the opportunity to do so even when it was their turn. As the party ward chairman, we insisted and he still had his way. We even went to the Government house to protest but were asked to allow peace to reign “

” When it was the turn for Town Union presidency again for Obinagu, they brought one Mr Sylvanus Chukwudi after thorough screening to be their rep, the same Prince Ezeh went and brought Hon Emma Edeh, who just finished his councillorship to take over the position, as against wishes obinagu people ; an incident that brought avoidable crisis leading to the breaking of chairs, canopies amongst others during the said election. “Even when his father, late Ìgwè ogbuzuru Ezeh urged that both of them step down for another person,he refused saying that, no body questions his authority in the village.

” When ìgwè died in December 2022, while still in the mortuary, Prince Lawrence wanted to crown one Simon Anubi the Ìgwè of Mburubu, but was refuted by all Mburubians, saying it was wrong.

” He went to Alfred Nwachukwu to take over the throne, but he refused because, he was allegedly given a bad condition which he wasn’t comfortable with.

” Prince Ezeh later went to Mr Cornelius Okorie, who refused; saying that the PG which they gave him, was just ceremonial as he didn’t have any power of his own but just carrying instructions while on seat.

” Augustine Chukwuogbu was approached but he refused saying he isn’t capable in all spheres to give Mburubu a modern leadership she desired.

This was why Mr Linus Igbudu was asked to do, which on the day of his declaration, our people were forced to follow him to the local Government headquarters.”

“The people of Mburubu refused to be forced into following Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh.”

“We are perplexed by this current harassment of our people and call on the state government to intervene”

“Chief Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe Is our ìgwè elect and no form of Intimidation can deter us from supporting him”

Efforts to get the response of Prince Lawrence Ozoemena Ezeh proved abortive as at the time of this report as his line couldn’t connect.