'I'm not a thief, I only...," former legislative leader in Enugu lay facts bare amid dirty accusations

Barely a year after Hon Philip Igwe, former House Leader in Aninri legislative chamber was booted out of the office in a unanimous protest by his colleagues, his successor is fighting to clean his own name as more accusing fingers continue to point to his records of service.

Hon Ogbonna Ajah formally handed over to a new person yesterday after representing Okpanku ward in Aninri council for four years. Since last week his people have taken to social media to drag him, saying he had allegedly stolen solar street lights while also labelling him a “total failure”.

Ajah’s supporters’ attempts to counter those claims only end up fuelling them, and the voice of the now ex-lawmaker has so far been effectively suppressed in the media spaces, swallowed by the noises of his accusers.

“It has come to our attention about the message currently circulating on this platform, containing baseless, malicious, and politically calculated accusations against the Leader of the Aninri Legislative Council and outgoing Councillor of Okpanku Ward, Rt. Hon. Ajah Emmanuel Ogbonna (sic)”, Godwin Okoro, the ex-lawmaker’s media aide, said yesterday.

Okoro said the allegation of diverting the solar street lights belonging to Okpanku people is “entirely false, baseless, and a cheap attempt to create unnecessary division”. This line of talk didn’t deter Ajah’s critics who has instead switched to some other platforms to continue vilifying him.

However, Hon. Ogbonna Ajah has denied any wrongdoing. In an telephone interview with InfoWars yesterday, the former lawmaker said his critics are being tormented by “bitterness and personal grievances”, insisted he preferred that his “record in public service should speak for itself.”

“In less than one year in office, I commissioned my first constituency project – renovation and furnishing of the headmaster’s Office at Town School, Amaogudu Okpanku. The project cost me about ₦560,000”, Ajah said, shared pictorial proofs.

“That same year, I launched the “Kit a Child” Project, through which I provided back-to-school materials to about 60 indigent pupils in my wards.

“Beyond the projects, I also participated actively in peacemaking efforts. During the early crisis between Okpanku and Ubru, I joined the PGs of Okpanku and Ekoli autonomous communities, Hon. Obiora Onwuchekwa Obasi and Hon. Mark Ogbonna, as well as the late HRH Igwe Reginald Chukwu, in several peace interventions.

“Through those some of these interventions we were able to secure the release of some abducted/captured Okpanku indigenes through engagements involving the police and the Ebonyi State Police Command,” Ajah continued.

The embattled lawmaker also said he proposed two by-laws during his terms: The establishment of an Aninri Land Registry Unit, and The establishment of an Aninri Agricultural Development Committee. Although he successfully got them through processes needed for them to become laws, none of the bills saw the light of the day. According to him, “a letter from Government House” came and killed them.

Hon. Ajah also related his efforts to make Aninri healthcare and education sectors functional were huge but, nevertheless fruitless, while he also clarified that there was no “case of diversion”, when it came to solar street lights.

“The solar lights were distributed according to the process adopted for the distribution. It was not a case of diversion.

“The issue arose because some people felt that the distribution did not favour them as they expected. The matter was discussed on the Okpanku platform, and I believe anyone who wants to establish the fact can look at the discussions rather than rely on heresay,” the former explained.

In 2024, Ajah replaced Philip Igwe after Igwe was ambushed by his colleagues in one of the smoothest legislative impeachments in Enugu State politics. He was rejected and removed before he even realised it, and till today Aninri public is still in the dark regarding what really hit the former councillor of Ndeabor.

The ongoing dispute among Ajah and his constituents might represent but a part in a broadening conflict ahead of 2027 general elections. A source who is privy to the development told InfoWars that some Aninri political actors were clandestinely trying to stop “him (Hon. Ajah) from likely appointment from Government House which is coming soon”.

InfoWars reached out to Hon Mark Ogbonna for comments.