People of Isuaniocha community in Awka North Local Government Area have staged a peaceful protest at the Government House Awka demanding for urgent intervention of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in the crisis ravaging the community. The protesters also called withdrawal of certificate of recognition issued to Barrister Mkpuorah Ngini as the Traditional Ruler of the town, claiming that he was imposed on them.

 

The peaceful protest attracted of over one thousand members of the community including the youths, young men and women, as well as the aged.

During the protest, the people were seen with placards with inscriptions such as, “Isuaniocha needs peace not Igwe”, ” Governor Soludo please listen to our cry”, “Isuaniocha do not need youths who sell our land”, ” ” Isuaniocha needs peace not war”.

 

Speaking through the Caretaker President General of Isuaniocha community, Mr Frederic Egwunwa, the protesters appealed for immediate intervention of Governor Soludo in the long-lasted crisis of the town which they said started in 2018 after some portions of the community secondary school land were illegally sold out, pointing out that government need to restore peace in Isuaniocha to protect life and property .

The people demanded that the certificate of recognition issued to Barrister Ngini be withdrawn as he was allegedly imposed on them after an election that was dubiously organized by some group of persons, explaining that igweship in Isuaniocha community from time immemorial is not decided by election but rather through the custom and tradition of the community and by merit, stating that even if the igweship of the town will now be decided through an election, that the state government should first enthrone peace in the community to enable everybody in Isuaniocha participate in the election, as according to them, a lot of people especially the major stakeholders, ran out of the community for safety.

They also informed the government that the entire Isuaniocha community on the ninth of August this year passed a vote of no confidence in the President General of the town union, Mr Paul Onuorah-Okoye after he absconded for several months having allegedly been involved in illegal sale of the community lands including the popular Eke-Isuaniocha market, and other dubious activities.

 

Some of the people who spoke during the outing, including the eldest man in Isuaniocha community, Chief Raphael Okeke, a seventy-five-year-old elder Obikeh Okoye, Mrs Chinyere Nweke and Mr Moses Emebo while noting that such crisis has never been witnessed in the history of the community, acknowledged the quality leadership style of Governor Chukwuma Soludo since his assumption of office, pleading that he address the Isuaniocha crisis with his fatherly wisdom.

Addressing the people on behalf of the state government, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr Fidelis Nnazor commended them for their peaceful conduct during the protest and assured them of the government’s immediate intervention on the issues, as he reminded them that the administration of Professor Chukwuma Soludo loves peace and has continued to do the needful to restore peace in all the warring communities in the state.

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