It is unlawful and illegal for factional stakeholders to decline engagement with the Interim Caretaker Committee inaugurated by the Mbaitoli Chairman, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanegwo, when duly invited

In one of my master classes abroad. If I remembered correctly it was in a business psychology class. The middle aged lecturer started the class with the word – NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. GROUPS, COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS included. This brings us to the topic of why we have laws in the first place? What is the LAW? In literary terms, assuming the law is a cooking gas cylinder. When it is filled with cooking gas , we have a cooking gas cylinder filled with gas. The gas inside the cooking gas cylinder is simply energy in the natural and scientific terms. Lets say a cooking gas cylinder filled with energy. The cooking gas cylinder can be assumed to be the LAW while energy inside the gas cylinder can be assumed to be the GOVERNMENT. The government transforms that energy into enforcing the LAWS within its jurisdiction and doing other useful work for that jurisdiction. Let assume the jurisdiction to be the size of that cooking gas cylinder. So the LAW is that cooking gas cylinder that holds a system in place, that brings safety, stability and security to the system jurisdiction. In essence the Law, the government and its jurisdictions all work in synergy to maintain peace, stability, security and safety. 

No system can remain in a vacuum. A village is a system, a town is a system, an autonomous community is a system, a local government is a system. When a system remains in a vacuum, according to natural laws and Newton’s second law of thermodynamics, the level of entropy starts to increase drastically. What is entropy? Entropy is a measure of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty in a system. In other words when a system is isolated, over time it will evolve from order to disorder.

Therefore there is no isolated system. What we have is inter relation and inter dependences of systems. There are six tiers of government in Nigeria. We have the Federal government, we have the State government, we have the Autonomous community government, we have the Town government and we have the Village government. All these are systems and they all work in synergy. The village government law should be in line with the autonomous community laws otherwise it is null and void, the autonomous community laws should be inline with the Imo state laws otherwise it is null and void. Etc. 

The Obi Mbieri government has scheduled a special meeting and they are inviting all stakeholders, all the town PGs in Obi Mbieri, all the Village Chairman, all the Village Heads, all the titled Chiefs, all the Woman Representative and all the Youth Representatives. This special meeting is scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The venue is at Obi Mbieri Town Hall  – Nworie Ebom and time is 10 AM prompt. The meeting will discuss the present situation in Obi Mbier and other information sessions as may arise. 

We urge all the people invited above to attend the meeting. Let’s do away with factions, let’s unite, let’s think clearly and speak with one voice and make Obi Mbieri great again. Lets kill personal or individual interest and rather pursue the common and shared interest of all Obi Mbieri people. 

We should also remember vividly and note that it is unlawful and illegal for factional stakeholders to decline engagement with the Interim Caretaker Committee inaugurated by the Mbaitoli Chairman, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanegwo, when duly invited. Such refusal undermines due process, constituted authority, and the collective interest of good governance within Mbaitoli Local Government Area. 

Let us also remember that the Interim Caretaker Committee was lawfully constituted by the recognized leadership of the local government, acting within its powers to restore order, ensure continuity of administration, and address pressing governance and developmental needs. Once a committee is duly inaugurated by the appropriate authority, it enjoys legal recognition and legitimacy, and all stakeholders are expected to accord it the necessary cooperation.

Also regardless of internal disagreements or political affiliations, the factional stakeholders have a civic and legal responsibility to engage constructively with such a committee when invited. Declining engagement not only amounts to disregard for constituted authority but also constitutes an act capable of disrupting administrative stability and public order. Governance thrives on dialogue, consultation, and participation, not selective compliance.

Moreover, refusal to engage frustrates the very purpose of the Interim Caretaker Committee, which is to provide an inclusive platform for reconciliation, consultation, and coordinated action in the interest of the people. Stakeholders who deliberately stay away weaken governance processes and risk placing personal or factional interests above the collective good of Obi Mbieri people. 

In a system governed by the rule of law, disagreements should be resolved through lawful engagement, not through boycott or non-cooperation. Once invitations are duly issued, stakeholders are obligated to respond in good faith, present their positions, and contribute meaningfully to governance efforts.

In conclusion, declining engagement with the Interim Caretaker Committee inaugurated by the Mbaitoli Chairman, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanegwo, when duly invited, is not only improper but unlawful and illegal. All factional stakeholders are therefore urged to respect constituted authority, embrace dialogue, and work collaboratively to promote peace, unity, and development in Obi Mbieri in particular and in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in general.

Ignorant of the law is not an excuse.