Protest rocks Awka over recognition of monarch by Anambra govt
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Over 1000 indigenes of Isuaniocha Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have staged a peaceful protest to demonstrate their non-acceptance of new traditional ruler who was recently issued a certificate of recognition by the Anambra State Government.
Governor Soludo had, last Saturday, presented certificates of recognition to four traditional rulers, one of whom was Igwe Mkpuorah Ngini of Isuanaocha.
However, barely four days after the recognition , indigenes of the community took to the streets to demonstrate their non-acceptance of the new monarch the government recognized for them.
The protesters who stormed the state Government House said that what the Community needed at the moment was nothing but peace, and not imposition of a traditional ruler by a few cabals “who do not mean well for the town.”
The protesters displayed placards with different inscriptions such as “Igweship election was conducted under crisis and confusion”; “We reject Mkpuorah Ngini”; “Ngini family cannot dictate for Isuaniocha”; “Chikodi Anarah, Igbakigba, leave Isuaniocha alone”; and “Isuaniocha needs peace not war”.
Others read:“We have suffered a prolonged period of crisis sponsored by the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chikodi Anarah”; “Governor Soludo, please listen to the good people of Isuaniocha”; and “Do not listen to your Dubious Commissioners, Tony Nwabunwanne and Chikodi Anarah,” among other write-ups.
The protesters also declared their confidence in Governor Soludo’s ability to urgently address the age-long crisis rocking their community.
Presenting their grievances, the Caretaker President General of the community, Mr Friedrich Chukwuma Egwunwa, said the crisis began in 2018 when some persons, including the present Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikodi Anarah, connived and sold a vast portion of land belonging to Isuaniocha Community Secondary School.
According to him, “the crisis that erupted from that action forced many stakeholders in our community to flee to other neighboring communities in search of safety.”
He said the situation had remained like that since six years ago, while the cabals and their cohorts ran the town’s affairs with impunity and without respect for elders.
Mr. Egwunwa wondered how the stakeholders and many other indigenes of the community would still be on the run, taking refuge in other communities, and the cabals would claim that a traditional ruler had been elected in the Community that is still struggling and craving for peace.
“The government of Governor Soludo said earlier that there would be no election in communities that have crises; and Isuaniocha is one of such communities.
” But Tony Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters went ahead to conduct a shabby election where they coerced a few individuals to come and stand as electorates. The stakeholders did not even know about it. He ignored the Governor’s directive for his own personal reasons.
“Chikodi Anarah, who sold our land, has been doing everything possible to suppress every evidence; and that was why they colluded to present someone to the Governor as our Igwe. We don’t accept that move. All we want now is peace,” he said.
Responding, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, said Governor Soludo was a man of peace and justice, and would not be a party to any injustice in the state.
The SSG, who spoke through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Fidelis Nnazor, promised the people that the government would look into their grievances and the protest letter, as well as take the necessary action within the next one week.
According to him, the government will set up a committee immediately to look into the matter, with a view to resolving it and bringing peace back to the town. This, he said, would enable the Soludo Administration to carry on with its developmental projects in all parts of the state without any hindrance.
