By CHIDIPETERS OKORIE
I write today not only as a proud son of Mburubu but as a witness to the quiet dignity of a people who have chosen peace, order, and constitutional governance over chaos and political subjugation.
Mburubu, our small yet proud town in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, has always been guided by consensus as enshrined the town’s constitution. It is a town made up of seven villages — Umudara, Uhuegbe, Uhuagu, Umunafor, Obinagu, Amanato, and Amachi — each with a deep-rooted sense of tradition, mutual respect, and civic duty. In our town union system, we have something rare: a peaceful, rotational leadership structure that has stood the test of time and has even been gazetted by the Enugu State Government.
In line with that constitutional provision, the *Mburubu Town Union (MTU)* — the only government-recognized and legally constituted body that governs our community affairs — has set the date for our next town union election. Every village has presented its candidate as required by the rotational arrangement. Campaigns have proceeded without incident. The people are eager to vote, and the union is prepared to facilitate a transparent process. Everything is set. Everything is peaceful.
Yet, despite this readiness and the absence of any form of crisis, a dangerous and unnecessary storm brews on the horizon.
Reports — credible, persistent, and troubling — indicate that the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development, and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Okey Ogbodo, is considering the appointment of a caretaker committee to oversee Mburubu Town Union affairs, under some vague guise of “administrative transition” or “intervention.” I find this deeply alarming. And so does the entire community.
Let me be clear: Mburubu has no leadership crisis. There is no vacuum, no conflict, and no breakdown in our structures that warrants external interference. We are governed by a constitution approved by the state, and we have followed it meticulously. So, what exactly is the motivation here?
I am not quick to entertain conspiracy theories. But when a community that has demonstrated unity and maturity suddenly finds itself targeted for an unlawful caretaker committee — just weeks before a peaceful election — one must start to question motives. Allegations have surfaced, unverified but loud, that a sum of ₦20 million may have been exchanged to justify this interference. I will not dwell on the allegation, but I will not pretend the rumor hasn’t fueled tension and suspicion within our community. People are asking uncomfortable questions — and they deserve answers.
What is even more infuriating is that this pattern isn’t new. We have watched what happened in Obeagu-Ugwuaji, where a caretaker committee was imposed under un-cleared circumstances. That move fractured their community and triggered a wave of legal battles, protests, and resentment that still lingers. The wounds from that decision remain open. We will not allow Mburubu to suffer the same fate.
We are not a lawless people. We are not anti-government. But we are fiercely protective of our rights, our peace, and our dignity. Mburubu does not need a caretaker committee as planned. What we need is for the state government to respect the rule of law and allow our election to proceed as scheduled.
What message do we send to our youth when a government that should protect constitutional order undermines it for political gain? What confidence do we build when the voices of the people are ignored? If we are to believe in democracy, let democracy work — especially at the grassroots level.
Our rotational system ensures that every village has its turn to serve, avoiding the very crisis this kind of interference often creates. The candidates are known to their people. The process is transparent. There is no ambiguity. What then is the justification for wanting to drag this community into crisis?
The MTU is not a political party. It is not a campaign vehicle. It is our community’s soul. And any attempt to manipulate it for personal or political ambition must be condemned by all well-meaning stakeholders.
We are not afraid to seek redress through legal means. If this imposition happens, we will challenge it. But we shouldn’t have to fight our own government to uphold a process that is already lawful. It is exhausting. It is disheartening. And it is wrong.
To the Enugu State Government, and especially to Mr. Okey Ogbodo, I appeal not with anger but with sincerity: do not create a crisis where none exists. Let our people vote. Let the constitution the Enugu State Government approved be respected. Let us serve as an example of what local governance should look like — democratic, lawful, and peaceful.
And to my fellow Mburubu citizens — elders, youth, women, and our traditional institutions — let us stand firm, but let us stand with peace. We do not need violence. We must continue to speak with one voice, just as we have done. We are united, and that unity is our greatest defense.
History is watching. The people are watching. And the law is clear.
Let us have our election.
Not a caretaker.
Dr. Chidipeters Okorie is a native of Mburubu, a journalist and community advocate
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