By Princewill Mbonu
Anambra State Government has directed the Caretaker President General of Abba Town Union, ATU, Mr. Alexander Ekwuagana, to stay action on the use of the purported chieftaincy constitution of the community, saying that such act “is capable of breeding crisis” in Abba.
A letter addressed to the people and leadership of Abba community dated 23rd July 2025 and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne; for the attention of Mr. Alexander Ekwuagana, explained that the state government is not aware of any notification for drafting of Abba Chieftaincy Constitution and therefore did not approve such as required by law.
The letter further explained that drafting or amendment of community constitution in the state must comply with the provisions of S. 13 (2) (3) of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law (2007) which stipulated the inherent processes to be adopted.
Copied to Zone 13 Ukpo, Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Security, Traditional Ruler of Abba, Mayor of Njikoka LGA, and DPO Abagana, the letter further directed Mr. Ekwuagana to comply with government’s directive and be guided accordingly.
It was gathered that Ire, believed to be the most senior of the four villages in Abba, had through its leadership led by the Chairman, Mr. Ugochukwu Atusiuba, raised issues over some provisions of the chieftaincy constitution, and later declined signing same when the issues were not resolved.
However, the town union leadership led by Mr. Ekwuagana, and with the knowledge of the Traditional Ruler, Igwe Leonard Nwankwo Ezeh, went further to push for the adoption of the constitution at a congress of the community.
Combine with other issues such as the handling of leadership crisis in Iruokpala; a quarter in Ire village, the ATU led by Mr. Ekwuagana later on 19th March 2025 announced suspension of recognition of the Ire village leadership under Mr. Atusiuba for “incessant attack and public contempt … shown on the leadership of the Abba Town Union”.
ATU under Mr. Ekwuagana also announced a stop to “any further official communication with the Executive Committee of the Ire Solidarity Union led by Mr. Ugochukwu Atusiuba until it purges itself of contempt”, among others, and the Ire Solidarity Union under Mr. Atusiuba, in turn, announced dissociation from the ATU leadership of Mr. Ekwuagana, leading to a near-death experience during Easter period when Ire youths resisted armed community vigilante and Operation Udo Ga-achi operatives who entered the village to enforce PG’s instructions.