More than 500 members of Isuaniocha Community in Awka North Local Government area of anambra state have staged a peaceful protest to draw the attention of Governor Charles Soludo to traditional ruler tussle and communal land crisis .
They blocked the entrance to the government house thereby forcing the exco meeting to a sudden end.
They were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions “Governor Soludo please give us peace in Isuaniocha, Isuaniocha need peace not War , Chikodi Anara should steer clear from Isuaniocha for Peace to return, Chikodi Anara and his cohorts like Cosmas Okonkwor, Onyemazi Ngini, Onuora Okoye and others have War machine terrorising Isuaniocha Community among other write ups”.
The leader of the Protesters and Acting President General of Isuaniocha, Mr Fredrick Egwunwa said it was regrettable that government has failed to keep its promise that a committee would be set up to look into the matter during their last protest by the people.
He said that the government failure to set a committee prompted them to block the entrance gate of the government house so that proper attention will be given to the disappointed residents.
Mr Egwunwa said Isuaniocha Community had a laid down procedure of chosing who their traditional ruler will be and never a time was it done through ‘Kangoro’ election.
According to him,the people totally reject the imposition of a Traditional ruler on them by few individuals who he alleged were responsible for the sell of the school land and other atrocious acts in the town.
“The issue that brought us here is about Igweship, in Isuaniocha . we don’t need that Igweship now,what we want is Peace. we have never elected Igwe in the history of Isuaniocha, we have process of choosing our
Igwe not by election and the people that elected him is not people’s choice. The same people that sold the Community Secondary School land, that connived together and imposed Igwe upon us so that they will close up their atrocities,but Isuaniocha is saying no to that, we will never accept that.”he said.
Governor of the state Prof Charles Soludo who addressed the protesters through
the Chief of Staff to the government, Mr Ernest Ezeajuyi said government would look into the land and igweship crises in the Community.
According to him,government will soon restore peace in the community.
The Chief of Staff , accompanied by the Commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Tony Nwabunwanne, said the administration of Soludo will not relent in ensuring that there is peace in Isuaniocha and by extension , every Community in the state.
He also commended the people of Isuaniocha for the courage to speak with one voice , noting that the government will have a round table discussion with representatives of the eight villages of the Community including their acting President General , to understand the issues ravaging the town.