A group of protesters from Amanuke in Awka North Local Government has staged a counter peaceful protest, insisting that the traditional ruler imposed on the community by the Obiano administration has torn the community apart, throwing it a perpetual leadership crisis.
The protest which is coming barely a week after another group from the community led a protest against land grabbing in the community where they fingered some individuals for illegally disposing community lands.
The protesters numbering in their hundreds claimed that the previous protesters were stage managed and that their that land grabbing is the major reason for the lasting dispute in the community is untrue.
They said that rather the imposition of a monarch that is unwanted by a majority of the people by former Governor Willie Obiano which has nosedived into violent leadership crisis in the community is the reason for the lasting killings and security breaches in the community.
The protesters numbering in their hundreds claimed that the previous protesters were stage managed and that their that land grabbing is the major reason for the lasting dispute in the community is untrue.
They said that rather the imposition of a monarch that is unwanted by a majority of the people by former Governor Willie Obiano which has nosedived into violent leadership crisis in the community is the reason for the lasting killings and security breaches in the community.
The protesters who were at Zone 13 Headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area and the Government House in Awka, insisted that the individuals fingered by the protesters are, in fact, not land grabbers and explained that their peaceful demonstration is to set the records straight to ensure that the state government and the Nigeria Police Force are not misled.
Speaking, the oldest man of the town aged over 100, Mr. Nnawobu Okafor and the custodian of Amanuke community, Chief Nwafor Ezebuilo said that as elders of the town, it will be a sacrilege for them not to set the record straight and watch injustice prevail, acknowledging that the community was set ablaze then former governor Willie Obiano who ignored the elected traditional ruler of the town and certified another individual who is a brother to the elected community ruler thus, setting the stage for all sorts of violence, impunity, harassments and no value for human lives.
They appealed to the state government to disregard the claim that land grabbing is the major cause of the dispute in the community but long lasting leadership tussle which can only be resolved through credible panel of enquiry devoid of manipulation and influence of sons and daughters of the community who are in government.
They claimed that the elders of the town live in fear for their lives as they watch their children and youths kill and destroy themselves because they have refused to the heed to advices of the elders and asked the state government to intervene and correct the anomalies in the leadership of the community.
The pioneer Woman President General of the town, Mr. Ngozi Okuefuna and some youths of the town, Christopher Igwedinma and Ikechukwu Ofuorah-Nwafor appreciated the Nigeria Police Zone 13 Ukpo for their prompt action which led to the arrest and detention of one of the leading persons who forment trouble in the community.
They frowned at those who assassinate the character of investors and other respectable men in the community, and accused them of deceiving the state government and the public with different types of propaganda, stating these mischief makers only engage in intimidation to foster untold hardship and fear so as to continue to hold on to the leadership of the community.
Responding to their requests, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu thanked the community for their peaceful conduct while the protest lasted and for the information they provided and assured them that the Soludo-led administration is committed to arrest all sorts of conflicts and leadership tussles in different parts of the state.
Dr Obiogbolu assured that the state government is collaborating with security agencies in the state to ensure that peace and tranquility is entrenched and advised them not to take laws into their hands and allow appropriate authorities to do their jobs and intervene in the matter.
