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By Onuchukwu Hamilton
The people of Amanato Okporo Autonomous Community in Orlu LGA, of Imo State, had in their community central square, reiterate that Mr Jude Onwude is never their President General and also wish to inform the general public, that despite their cautious to him, on the dangers of impersonation, usurping a position and fueling crisis in the community,, he (Mr. Onwude) went and regrettably sponsored an advertorial in the weekend edition of Announcer Express Newspaper ,dated 5th December 2025, where he falsly described himself( Mr. Jude Onwude ), as the President General when both the Amanato Okporo Autonomous Community, the Orlu LG council workers and the State Government recognize the fact that Chief John Egeolu is actively serving as the substantive President General of Amanato Okporo Autonomous Community.
Declaring Mr. Onwude persona non grata, the Amanato Okporo Autonomous Community Town Union Executives, the council of Elders, the Youth and women wings issued the statement to the newsmen , last weekend through their President General, Chief John Egeolu .
In his words, " rumors had it that Mr Onwude was trying to usurp my position as the President General of this Community but I never believed it until when I saw an advertorial placed by Mr. Onwude in Announcer Express Newspaper of 5th December, where he deceptively called himself the President General of Amanator Okporo Autonomous Community". " Gentlemen of Press, that sponsored newspaper publication, shocked all and sundry to the marrow because, I procedurally came into office in 2021 and during the burial ceremony of our late Traditional Ruler, HRH Eze VNC Ibenye Ugbala, the Town Union wrote a condolence message where this Onwude signed as the Public Relations Officer( PRO) while my name and signature appeared conspicuously as the President General of the community. You can see it in the burial brochure of the late Eze which was dated, Friday, 3rd September, 2021 as one of the plethora of evidence to prove that Mr. Onwude is trying to be mischievous". " I didn't resign nor was sacked from office.
The President General, Chief Egeolu, went further to state that the reason for this refutal is to alert the general public, never to accord Mr. Onwude the nomenclature of a PG as the community he said, will apply the lawful measures in clipping his wings. According to Chief Egeolu, ''whenever, it is time to elect a Community President General, there are constitutional measures. The procedure for the election of a Community President General in Imo State, is primarily guided by the specific bye-laws( constitution) of individual town unions. The Imo State Traditional Rulers & Autonomous Community Law(2006, as amended in 2020) gives the community, the right to have their internal bye -laws. "These General procedures, typically involves the formation of an electoral Committee by the Community's Governing body, the announcements for the scheduled election like dates for the candidates nominations and screening , campaigns, voting and announcement of vote. " "Therefore, Mr Onwude should explain to the Imo State Government and Local Government Authorities, how he assumed the position of a PG.
Meanwhile, all the initial efforts to connect with Mr Onwude at Press time was futile but when finally contacted, Mr. Onwude reveals that he is working on an interim capacity as the President General on the orders of Amanato Okporo people. That he was nominated as the PRO of the community around early 2020 alongside Chief John Egolu as the PG. That his later nomination as the Ag. PG, is well recognised but in the said sponsord newspaper advertorial that is raising dust, he failed to indicate that he is on acting capacity. However, the people of Amanato are maintaining that Mr. Onwude is never their PG.