APC chairman arrested for selling FG’s palliatives in Oguta, Imo state

The traditional ruler of Ejemekwuru in the Oguta Council Area of Imo State, HRH Eze Hypolite Obinna Duru, has given reasons for the arrest of the ward chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ejemekwuru in the Oguta LGA, Mr Dominic Ikpeama, by the police.

He said that he was arrested for allegedly selling the federal government’s palliatives meant for the people of the Ejemekwuru autonomous community, reports Nigerian Tribune.

The Monarch said that the arrest of the politician followed a petition he submitted at the Oguta divisional police headquarters alleging that the politician sold twenty bags of corn and five bags of garri meant for the community.

The monarch described Ikpeama’s action as a sabotage of the efforts of the Federal and state governments to alleviate the sufferings of the people of his community.

Eze Duru told our correspondent in Owerri on Saturday that the arrest of Mr Ikpeama by the policemen came because he sold the food items that were given to his community by the federal government.

He said, “The action of Mr. Ikpeams was improper and his subjects, who the food items were meant, were not happy. Ikpeama was arrested and detained on Wednesday, August 21 at the Oguta Police Division.”

According to him, the incident comes at a time when the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is making concerted efforts to alleviate the suffering of the masses by distributing essential food supplies to state and local authorities across the country.

He recalled that President Tinubu, in his drive to address the hardship faced by many Nigerians, recently distributed trillions of food items, including bags of rice, corn, and garri, to be shared among the most vulnerable citizens.

The Monarch observed the report that Mr Ikpeama is taking advantage of his previous position in the Ejemekwuru Town Union, and wrongfully claimed these palliative items allocated to Ejemekwuru Autonomous Community.

He regretted that Instead of distributing the food supplies to the needy, Mr Ikpeama allegedly sold them on the spot to local palliative merchants, disregarding the dire situation of the community members.

He said, “Ikpeama’s actions had sparked outrage among the town elders, who accuse him of using his influence to manipulate the distribution process.

“Despite no longer holding an official position, Mr Ikpeama, along with Mr Kyrian Igwebuike, the former president of the town union, have reportedly held the town hostage, refusing to relinquish power even after nearly a decade of service. The town elders, angered by this betrayal, have called in the police to investigate the matter, hoping that both the federal and state governments will intervene.

This incident has highlighted the challenges faced by President Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodinma in their efforts to provide relief to suffering Nigerians.

He said, “While their leadership is focused on improving the lives of the people, unscrupulous individuals like Mr. Ikpeama are undermining these initiatives at the local level. The community and the wider public await the outcome of the police investigation, with hopes that justice will be served and that the rightful beneficiaries of the palliative items will receive the support they desperately need.

Meanwhile, Mr Kpeama, when contacted, dismissed the allegations levelled against him; however, he told our correspondent that he shared the food items with five principal villages instead of the 23 villages in the community.

He declared that he had been released from police custody and that the policemen at Oguta divisional headquarters asked them to go home, reconcile their differences, and report back to them.