The people of Isuaniocha community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have rejected their newly elected Traditional ruler, Barrister Mpuorah Ngini, over persistent land disputes in the area.
Staging a peaceful protest at Government House Awka, the Isuaniocha indigenes lamented said the community does not need any Traditional ruler at the moment; until peace, fairness and justice are restored in the community.
The protesters who carried placards with various inscription, such as; Governor Soludo, please listen to our cry, we don’t need Igwe now, Isuaniocha community need peace not Igwe, nobody vote or elected the Igwe, we are here for peace and not fight, also accused the state Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anara, of sponsoring crisis in the community, Awka North LGA and beyond.
They asked Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to sack Chief Anara as Commissioner and replace him with men of integrity available in the LGA.
Sources said the protest by the people of Isuaniocha was as a result of the controversy surrounding the emergence of a traditional ruler of the community, who was on Monday given certificate of recognition by Governor Soludo.
Speaking further to newsmen shortly after presenting their protest letter to the government, the Acting President General of the community, Fred Chukwuma Egwunwa, insisted that the state government should withdraw the certificate from Barrister Ngini at the moment, and focus on how to settle all the crisis befallen the community.
He said that the community has tradition in choosing their Igwe; not through electoral process, insisting that “It has never been done in Isuaniocha and it will never be done”.
“So the certificate of return given to Barrister Mpuorah Ngini be withdrawn in order to avoid throwing the community into state of anarchy”, the PG appealed.
Egwunwa noted that the crisis started from the sale of Isuaniocha Community Secondary School land in 2018, which was master-minded by one Hon. Comas Okonkwo and spearheaded by Chief Anara; from a neighboring Amanuke community, and that the crisis had led to wantom destruction of lives and properties in the community.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulubelu, who responded on behalf of the Government, assure the people that Government under Governor Soludo will urgently look into the matter to ensure that their demands are giving 100 percent consideration.
The SSG was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and community matters, Mr. Fidelis Nnazor.