Papers relating to the instrument establishing the Onitsha urban district council:
Date
1956
Authors
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Publisher
Enugu State: The Government Printer,
Abstract
Statement by the honourable minister of internal affairs; Instrument establishing the Onitsha urban district council and revoking the previous instruments establishing the Onitsha urban district council; Statement by the natives of Onitsha; Statement by the non-Onitsha Ibos association; Treaty signed on 9th October, 1884; Intelligence report on the town of Onitsha, Onitsha division; The Ndichie and Ozo titles; System under British rule; Administrative proposals; XV.—Judicial ancient system; System under British rule; Proposals for the future; Financial; Revenue; Expenditure; Prisons; Works recurrent; Works staff; Education.
Description
The government of the eastern region has considered proposals for reform in Onitsha local government made by representatives of the Obi, Ndichie and natives of Onitsha, on the one hand, and the representatives of the Non-Onitsha Ibos association, on the other. The latter are in favour of the Obi of Onitsha acting as president of the Onitsha urban district council but request the existence of an elected chairman who will conduct the day-to-day affairs of the council. They also demand that elections into the council shall be from wards carved according to population and based on the principle of universal adult suffrage. They are opposed to what they call family representation, on the ground that those who provide tax for administration should have the universally accepted principle of democratic control through elected representatives. The representatives of Onitsha insist that the Obi and Ndichie have exercised authority and jurisdiction over Onitsha territory since the founding of that community. They hold that any system of government which disregards the political role of the Obi and Ndichie would be superficial and urge that the government should reform local government by building where the ground is firm and not where the crust is thin. After due consideration, government has decided to accord recognition to these views on the following grounds. Article I of the treaty of peace and friendship which was signed between her majesty queen Victoria and the king, queen, and chiefs of Onitsha on 9th October 1884.