Kumba, SW region:

Nigerians charge their Consul-General of promoting discord

By Johnson Mbu in Kumba

The Consul-General of the Nigerian Consulate for the Southwest and Northwest regions has been accused by Nigerians resident in Kumba of fueling discord and animosity within their ranks. Dan Warri Nwazim is also indicted by Kumba-based Nigerians of among other things denying warring factions of their Union a fair hearing; protecting an unpopular union executive, relying on half truths from informants to take important decisions and sowing seeds  of discord and bitterness within the Nigerian community here.

                The accusations rained on the Consul-General came on the heels of a recent peaceful demonstration staged by some Nigerians resident in the city of Kumba. The demonstrators were protesting against the continued stay at the helm of their union of Chief Elder Augustine Nwafor, whom according to them is unpopular and must go.

                “Our Union has not known any peace ever since Chief Elder Augustine Nwafor’s government took office in 2012. His government operates like a mafia, with a select group of persons controlling everything. Neither is the constitution respected nor do they work with the Consultative Assembly. More often than not they dictate very embarrassing decisions on the General Assembly,” lamented the spokesman of the agitating group of Kumba-based Nigerians, Kelvin Nnorom, who doubles as the Vice President of the Nigerian Union in charge of the Imo State community.

                Besides, the agitators also charged Chief Elder Augustine Nwafor’s government of fraud and extortion and working with consular officials to dupe poor Nigerians.

                They complain among other issues that consular cards which are supposed to be sold for FCFA 2000 are given out to the people at FCFA 10,000; the procedure for the transportation of the corpses of Nigerians to their villages in Nigeria has been rendered complex apart from the exorbitant levies charged which only make the process a nightmare.

                Apart from these, the agitators noted that the incessant wrangling between the Union and the state unions is the handiwork of the Union President who enjoys the backing of the Consulate in Buea.

                On a more confrontational note, the Consul-General is accused of keeping an ostrich-distance from his people. Some quarters noted that he has never visited Kumba in person or even sent a delegation ever since he took office three years ago. He gives a deaf ear to the cries of the masses and has created a good ground for animosity and discord to reign.

                Reason why today, rebellion has seen the light of day in the Kumba branch of the Nigerian Union with two union governments running the affairs of the union and compromising the very essence of the existence of the union as a unifying tool to bring all Nigerians together and an umbrella to shield all Nigerians against objective difficulties they may be confronted with in their host country.