Crusaderhotnews
June 15, 2024
By Chinozo Alizie
OWERRI—Scores of aggrieved people from Mbeitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, have appealed to the state government and the Nigeria Police to fish out and punish those who murdered Mr. Mekemem Charles Ndubuisi
The people made the appeal during a protest march to Government House, Owerri, to lodge their complaint on the gruesome murder of their son, Mekemem Charles Ndubuisi in his house through poisoning. He had been found lifeless in the corridor of his apartment.
Some of the placards read: “Killers of Mekemem Charles Ndubuisi have murdered sleep in heir lives. “Government please come to our rescue”, “Criminals have overrun Mbeitoli local government ”, “Criminals cannot rule us”, “You do not become Eze by killing others” and “Nobody will rule by us killing others”.
The placards carrying protesters besieged the gate of the Government House, bemoaning the untimely demise of Mekemem Charles Ndubuisi in the hands of dare-devil killers, a fallout of the Ezeship tussle in the area.
The spokesperson of the protesters, Mrs. Josephine Asirinyirimba, explained that Mekemem was killed because his son is the heir apparent to the throne and they are looking for a way to lure him back to Nigeria by killing his father.
Narrating the incident to Crusader online news Correspondent, Mr Emmanuel Ahaghotu, the youth leader of the autonomous community, said that on 12th June, 2024, about 2 am, the lifeless body of Mekemem Charles Ndubuisi was discovered in his bedroom by one of his friends.
Crusader news gathered that the community had been enmeshed in political tussle for a while, a development that had pitted the villagers against one another.
It would be recalled that, some members of the community raised objections to the letter from the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, which ordered the coronation of Mekemem Prince Ndubuisi as the new king. The throne became vacant following the death of Eze, Allah Chief C. E Mekemem in 2007. Mekemem Prince Ndubuisi is the grandson of the late king.
On the 19th of January, 2017, at least five persons were reported killed, while nine houses were completely razed in Umujam Mberie and Umudagu Mberie communities in Mbeitoli local government area of Imo State, following violent clashes between rival aspirants to the traditional rulership of the community. The heir apparent to the throne of Umujam Mberie and Umudagu Mberie communities, MEKEMEM PRINCE NDUBUISI was attacked but escaped death by the whiskers
However, around 1.30 a.m, on August 20th , 2017. Some blood-thirsty assailants had attacked Mekemem Prince Ndubuisi and thoroughly dehumanised him, inflicting several machete cuts on him.
He was taken to a hospital in Lagos for safety where he spent over six months undergoing several surgeries to survive. Despite that, he continued to receive threats messages and phone calls from unknown persons. Sensing that his life was not safe in Nigeria, he had to escape to Romania.
The selection of an Eze, Igwe or king, as case may be, has become contentious because of the their powerful nature in decision-making and the benefits attached to it. And Mekemem Prince Ndubuisi was viewed as being too young to have such powers.
One of the factors responsible for the kingship tussles and killings is the revenue sharing formula that made provisions for the traditional institutions. While other major causes of the kingship tussle were the monopoly of the governing post and the imposition of the unwanted people.
In addition, some rich people with questionable characters like fraudsters, ritualists, politicians want to occupy this traditional kingship stool through intimidation, threat to life and killing. They bribe those that make things happen in the communities.
The state Police Public Relations officer, Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the killing, said the state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galandanchi, had ordered a thorough investigation into the killing of Mekemem Charles Ndubuisi.
Enwerem said, "The CP has called for a thorough investigation into the killing. The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department has been instructed to take over the investigation process."
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