By Ifeizu Joe
Crisis rocking Isuaniocha community in Awka South Local government area of Anambra State has deepened.
This is as Indigenes of the community yesterday stormed the Anambra State government house in protest.
They accused the state commissioner for homeland affairs, Mr Chikodi Anara of being responsible for most of the crisis in the community.
Anara has on the contrary washed off his hands from the crisis, saying he has no stake in the community and does not hail from there, and as such could not have been responsible for their crisis.
The community has lately been rocked by land dispute and leadership tussle, especially with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent handing of certificate of recognition to the community’s monarch, Igwe Mkpuorah Ngini, who most members of the community have also disclaimed.
During Wednesday’s protest, indigenes of the community who turned out in their number wielded placards with inscription such as; ‘Governor Soludo, please give us peace in Isuaniocha’, ‘Isuaniocha needs peace not War’, ‘Chikodi Anara should steer clear from Isuaniocha for Peace to return’, Chikodi Anara and his cohorts are terrorizing Isuaniocha community’.
Leader of the protesters and acting President General of Isuaniocha, Mr Fredrick Egwunwa regretted that the government failed to keep their promise that a committee would be set up to look into the matter during the last protest by the people, reason he said prompted them to block the entrance gate of the government house so that proper attention will be giving to the disappointed residents.
“The issue that brought us here is about Igweship, and Isuaniocha says 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.
“The people that elected him are 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.”
The Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi who was accompanied by the Commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Tony Nwabunwanne, said the administration of Professor Soludo will not relent in ensuring that there is peace in Isuaniocha and by extension, every community in the state.
Ezeajughi who commended the people for having the courage to speak with one voice, told the people 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.
According to him, the present administration had recovered several lands belonging to Secondary Schools across the state and so will immediately look into that of Isuaniocha Secondary School land which is one of the contending issues causing problem in the area.
On the issue of traditional ruler, “We have heard your concerns and also read it on your placards. We heard all what you said, and to summarize, it is two major things. The land that people have taken in the secondary School and the issue of Igweship, so Mr Governor will look into your two main critical cases and come back to you.”
