Why LG chairman, others want to impose PG on Mpam people–Elders
…Says they’re hunted by sale of Mpam Bakery land to Eze Okwudiri
Maureen Aguta
Indication on Monday was that contrary to the claim by the Chairman of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA), Chief Larry Chikwe that non presentation of Hon Anthony Odom, the rightfully elected President General of Mpam Autonomous Community to his office is his reason for trying to impose a different person on the community, elders in the community say that shenanigans by the Local Government authority are efforts geared towards covering up the shoddy and distasteful ceding of the Mpam Modern Bakery site to a private individual for his hotel business.
Recall that the indigenes of Mpam Autonomous Community had expressed utmost disgust and outright indignation over the transfer of the property to a private person by the local government administration under the watch of Chief Chikwe.
Advocacy Times reports that Mpam people were agitated that the LG Chairman rather than revive the bakery factory which was said to be 50 per cent completed before it was abandoned by the local government authority, the present LG Chairman gave it out/leased/transferred the property a private individual for his personal enterprise.
Some of the elders of Mpam who spoke to Advocacy Times in different interviews at the weekend disclosed that the LG Chairman was among the top dignitaries that graced the December 26th, 2024 Statutory Meeting of Mpam Progressive Union (MPU) which its highpoints were the dissolution of the Hon Charles Ogbata led executives of the union, and the election of the new executives which had Hon. Anthony Odom emerging as the President General (PG).
Also in attendance at the meeting were the good people of Mpam, the Eze of Mpam – His Royal Highness Eze L. C. Ogbata, titled men, and the Councillor representing Mpam Ward in the Ahiazu Mbaise LGA legislature, Hon. Kinsley Okadike, among other dignitries and illustrious son of the Mpam Ancient Kingdom.
Eyewitness account during the December 26th meeting disclosed that the LG Chairman came to the meeting with truck load of military men, the police and armored tank.
They disclosed that three persons who indicated interest to contest for the office of PG of Mpam were: Hon. Anthony Odom, Chief Frank Ogoko and Mr. Anthony Ogu.
“During the election, Mr. Frank walked out of the venue of the election leaving Hon. Anthony Odom and Mr. Anthony Ogu, hence, election was conducted for the two using the process of Option A4.
“Mr. Anthony Ogu got 36 votes while Hon. Anthony Odom secured 140 votes and was the winner of the election.
At the end of the whole exercise, Hon. Anthony Odom and other newly elected executives were sworn into office by HRH Eze L. C. Ogbata-Onugotu II of Mpam.
Meanwhile the elders of the community have said that the issue of presentation of the elected PG to the chairman is alien to them and not know to MPU Constitution and a very poor excuse for anybody to try to cause confusion in the peaceful community after the people have chosen who to lead them based on well established process.
They agreed that a courtesy visit by Hon Odom to the office of the LG Chairman could enhance cordiality between the community and the Local Government authority, they however said the fact that the LG Chairman was physically present at the 26th December Statutory Meeting where the election of Hon Odom took place, is more than enough authentication for him and that the fact that the LG Chairman according to video trending online, purportedly received a different person in his office as the PG of Mpam, other than the one duly elected from the meeting he attended is a pointer to the fact that the LG Chairman is not neutral in the matter.
Sources close to the leadership of the four clans that make-up Mpam further accused the LG Chairman of orchestrating the looming crisis in the community because of the protestation of Mpam Autonomous Community against the Local Government authority for allegedly ceding the Mpam Bakery site to Eze Okwudiri of Ihitteaforukwu for his private business.
They further said that the unconstitutional interference in the internal matters of Mpam is very disturbing and traumatizing to the residents and indigenes of the community living in different parts of Nigeria and the world.
They reiterated that efforts to completely sweep under the carpet the issues about the plots of land which Ndi Mpam through their Late Eze, HRH Eze F. U. Anyanwu donated to the Local Government for the building of Mpam Modern Bakery Industry but which the Larry Chikwe administration rather than continuing and complete the project, transferred the plots of land to a private person who immediately demolished the uncompleted bakery building and commenced his private investment is a reason for his dabbling into the community’s internal cultural affair, saying the move could unsettle the peace and harmony the community is noted for.
Meanwhile, Advocacy Times reports that the office of the LG Chairman has affirmed that Hon Anthony Odom has never at any time been presented to the LG Chairman as the PG of Mpam Autonomous Community, rather it was Chief Frank Ogoko that was presented to it and he is the one enjoying his recognition and that informed his decision to send a warning letter to Hon Odom to stop parading himself as the PG of Mpam.
This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Comrade Uchechukwu Wisdom, denying that the Chairman is pursuing his personal aggrandisement in his alleged interference in the Mpam Progressive Union’s activities by way of trying to impose his unelected friend as the PG of Mpam.
The statement titled Re: Response to the open letter addressed to the Executive Governor of Imo State dated 05/04/2025 on alleged unconstitutional interference in the affairs of Mpam Autonomous Community.
It reads in part: “The Imo State Government, through the Local Government Council, reserves the constitutional right to authenticate, recognize, and relate with persons duly presented by autonomous communities through legally compliant processes. In the case of Mpam Autonomous Community, it was Chief Frank Ogoke who was officially presented and recommended to the Council by the community representatives through the statutory channel for government recognition. This recommendation followed necessary vetting and documentation by the appropriate community leadership, including the outgoing Town Union leadership.
“The government cannot operate on the basis of community factionalism or interest groups seeking to force their preferences without due documentation and protocol. The recognition of Chief Ogoke as PG remains valid until formally revoked through the same statutory channels,” the statement said.
However, the immediate past PG of Mpam Progressive Union, Hon. Charles Ogbata has denied been involved in any recommendation of Chief Ogoko to the LG Chairman.
He said, “The video of those who went to the Executive Chairman of Ahiazu Mbaise, is everywhere, look for it and watch it, you will not see me there.”