By Chidi Ndubeze, Awka
The people of Amakor village in Nanka community, Orumba North Local Government Area have solicited the intervention of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, over the looming crisis in their community.
The people are alleging that some influential men occupying leadership positions in the community are fomenting troubles that will destabilize the peace and security of the town.
Anambradaily gathered that a tussle erupted between Amakor village and the leadership of Nanka Patriotic Union (NPU) over the rightful village to produce the traditional Prime Minister (Onowu) of the community.
Amakor, one of the seven villages that made up Nanka, claims to be the rightful village to produce Onowu Nanka and alleged that someone else from a younger village to theirs had been installed as the Onowu Nanka by their alleged oppressors.
The village announced the withdrawal of its loyalty to their monarch, Igwe Godwin Ezeilo, and the community leader, Ifeanyi Ezike, pending when some of the alleged injustices meted to it were addressed.
The village leadership also claimed that a High Court sitting in Aguata had delivered judgment on the matter in September 2021. According to them, the judgment set aside the process that produced the new Onowu Nanka and restrained people of the community from recognizing him as the Onowu.
At a press briefing in Awka, the state capital, the Chairman of Amakor Njikoka Development Union, Obinna Ilo, and secretary, Walter Muoneme, alleged that since the disassociation and withdrawal of loyalty, the community’s leadership have engaged in actions that are targeted at destabilizing Amakor village administration, breeding insecurity, and depriving the villagers of their rights to entitlements in the community.
A statement endorsed by the Chairman and Secretary, but read by the Assistant Secretary, Patrick Okoli said: “Our disassociation did not go down well with Igwe Godwin Ezeilo, Nanka Patriotic Union, and the few influential Nankarians who swore that there will be no peace in Amakor. Chief Koffi Obijiofor (the Onowu) is still parading himself as the Onowu Nanka notwithstanding the unequivocal order of the court restraining him from doing so. This in our opinion is a recipe for communal war.
“During the distribution of the Covid-19 palliative, the Nanka Patriotic Union and Igwe Godwin Ezeilo diverted and sold the palliative mean t for Amakor in connivance with Chief Ifeanyi Ezeh, Emmanuel Nwofor, Azikiwe Ezeme, Henry Nwankwor, and Godwin Ilechukwu without the consent and authority of Mr. Obinna Ilo who was and still is the chairman of Amakor village.”
The statement accused Igwe Ezeilo and the PG of diverting the state government-sponsored palm and coconut seedlings meant for eligible Amakor indigenes.
It claimed that the indigenes with lands had submitted their names to the community leadership but their names were jettisoned and its village head by-passed when the seedlings were released to the community.
The villagers alleged that the community’s monarch and the PG in connivance with factions in the town are threatening to pull down gates that secure the village. According to them, the gates were constructed to monitor and curtail the movements of high-profile criminal elements who had taken the village as escape routes from the military and police to connect to other neighboring towns.
The villagers, however, urged Governor Soludo to restrain the community leaders from pulling down their security gates, return the Covid-19 palliatives, return all the palm and coconut seedlings, and obey the order of the court.
They also appealed that the governor stop the community leaders from interfering in the internal administration of their village and also stop threatening the security architecture, lives, and property of the people.
Reacting, the President-General of Nanka Patriotic Union (NPU), Ifeanyi Ezike refuted the claim of any court judgement. He also noted that he and the traditional ruler did not divert Amakor’s share of coconut and palm seedlings.
His words: “Some things have been lingering since I resumed office as the President general on 30th December, last year.
“The people of Amakor were aggrieved over the selection of Onowu of Nanka. They have taken the matter to court the for court to interpret Nanka’s constitution to that effect. I don’t know why they chose to go to press when their matter at the court is still pending and no judgment has been given to that effect.
“The coconut that was brought to the community was given to the seven villages and all the chairmen of the villages were given to go and share to their community. Amakor’s share was given to the vice chairman, Mr. Godwin Ilechukwu, but maybe some of them refused to go and collect their own. The claim that they were not given is unfounded.
Ezike said the report about the security gate us mischievous. “The gate they were talking about was mounted in January this year. If I had any intention, I would have removed it before now. They just want to cause trouble in the community and have refused to be pacified.
“We have already formed a committee that is now handling the matter. Nanka is a peaceful town, but few individuals are bent on creating scenario that our community has no peace,” he said.
