Ohaji/Egbema Council Accuses Omuruka, Jude Opara, and Henry Adimelechi of Fueling Crisis, Killings in Obile Community
Call on Governor Uzodimma’s, Security Agencies Urgent intervention
By Our Reporter
The leadership of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Imo State, has accused some prominent person’s of orchestrating unrest in the serene Obile Autonomous Community.
Speaking during a press briefing in Owerri, the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ulunma Opara, alleged that former President General of Obile, Mr. Kingsley Omuruka (popularly known as “Bloka”), Mr. Jude Opara, a former manager at Ada Palm, and Mr. Henry Adimelechi, a Commissioner in the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) representing Orlu Zone, are behind the recent violence, Killings and disruption of peace in the community.
According to Mrs. Opara, Mr. Omuruka, who reluctantly vacated office after exceeding his four-year tenure by more than two years, has refused to step down in line with the community’s rotational leadership tradition. She claimed that Omuruka’s attempts to cling to power have led to violent confrontations, allegedly involving using his cult groups resulting in the current losses of lives and destruction of property.
She urged journalists and the public to seek independent verification from the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Abyssinia Ogbuji, Ojimaduzaoku XXI (Onye-Okenye), stressing that Omuruka’s removal followed the community’s constitution. The document stipulates a rotational leadership system among the three villages—Umuoboke, Umuikpo, and Umuosu. The current President General, Comrade Ndubuisi Obido, hails from Umuosu, in line with this rotation.
Mrs. Opara expressed concern that Omuruka, despite participating in the initial Peaceful Resolution Congress accepted the terms of a peace dialogue that recognized Hon. Obido as the duly elected President General, later reneged on the agreement.
“We have video evidence showing the roles played by these individuals,” she stated. “The claims that the Council under the leadership of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Marcel Amadioha, and myself alleged of imposing the PG are baseless, defamatory, and intended to mislead the public.”
She further disclosed that she had personally consulted with some of the community’s supposed kingmakers, including Mr.Henry Adimelechi and Mr. Jude Opara, who reportedly advised that all parties respect existing customs and work towards de-escalating tensions and went behind to fuel crisis in order to cause cohesion and terror in the peaceful Obile Community.
“I challenge Kingsley Omuruka, Jude Opara, and Adimelechi to publicly explain how their actions have not been subversive to the peace and unity previously enjoyed in Obile,” she added.
As the crisis escalates, stakeholders and residents are calling for calm and a return to traditional processes of leadership transition.
Mrs. Opara insisted that the council’s interest is not political or for media attention but rooted in a desire to restore peace and bring the perpetrators of violence to justice.
She also alleged ongoing harassment, intimidation, and attacks by armed groups targeting community members who oppose Omuruka’s continued influence.
Mrs. Opara appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma and security agencies in the state to intervene urgently to protect lives and restore peace in Obile Community in Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
