Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Isiama Afaraukwu Umuahia kinsmen of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday staged a peaceful protest to register their grievances over the alleged imposition of a traditional ruler on the community and the invasion of the home of their President General.
The traditional stool of Isiama Afaraukwu, the host community of Abia’s seat of power, became vacant following the demise of Kanu’s father, HRM Eze Israel Kanu, in 2019.
The protesters, comprising men, women, and youths, marched in front of the main entrance gate to the Government House, where they were received by government officials, including the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Mr. Ken Nwosu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Magdalena Ugoanusi.
Decrying incessant harassment of their community leaders by the police over land compensation proceeds paid by the State Government, the protesters begged Governor Alex Otti to intervene.
According to them, some selfish elements are using the police to cause confusion in the community because of their personal interests.
They alleged that the past administration in the state gave a staff of office to Chief Amaechi Kelvin Ugwueje without due process, insisting that he has no legitimacy to preside over the community as the traditional ruler.
They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the staff of office which, according to them, was issued against the will of the people.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Ikechukwu Ndubueze said the staff of office was “hurriedly and dubiously” given to Ugwueje as compensation for working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
According to him, the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Christopher Enweremadu, did not allow the people to select their traditional ruler before hurriedly issuing the staff of office to Chief Ugwueje.
He urged the current administration in the state to investigate the matter and allow the people to determine for themselves who would be their traditional ruler.
Corroborating his position, the President General of Isiama Afaraukwu Women’s Wing, Mrs. Victoria Chinwe Ojinta, and the Chairperson of Ndagbo Village, Mrs. Chinwe Nnorom, strongly condemned the police for making themselves a tool of torment against community leaders.
They pleaded with Governor Otti to swiftly look into the matter in the interest of peace in the community.
Receiving the protesters, the SSA to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs commended them for their peaceful comportment.
She assured them that the Governor would look into their grievances and urged them to continue to maintain peace in the community.
Later, in an interview, the former PG of the community, Chief Ndubueze, said the police were invited by those who were denied control of the compensation for land paid by the Government.
He claimed that the PG’s aged mother slumped on sighting the destruction of her son’s properties by the police.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said she would later issue a statement on the matter after getting full details of what transpired.
