Thousands of villagers from the Mbu-Amon community in Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State at the weekend carried out a peaceful demonstration against perceived attempts to impose a traditional ruler on the people.

The demonstrators who marched to the Enugu Government House appealed to the state government to save the community from avoidable crisis.

Mr. Amechi Ezendu who led the protest alleged plans to compromise the standards of appointing a monarch in their community for the highest bidder.
Said he; “after the demise of our late monarch who hailed from Mbu-Akpoti, it became the turn of Mbu-Amon community to produce the next traditional ruler and the elders of the community according to tradition selected one Dr. Ralph Ossai to occupy the stool.

“The stool according to the Constitution of the Autonomous Community rotates between the two communities of Mbu-Amon and Mbu-Akpoti.”
Ezendu said that their community had uncovered plans to use the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs to impose another traditional ruler from Mbu-Akpoti where the late monarch hailed from which he said is not unacceptable to them.

He said that such incidence would go contrary to the rotational arrangement the communities had over the years adding that the two communities had earlier written to the commissioner who then set a five man panel from the two communities that would look into the matter.

The community leader said that the issue had generated a lot of crisis among the two communities, adding that their community had prevailed on the commissioner to stop the process of appointing any traditional ruler in the interim.

He however said they were surprised to notice that the ministry instead of heading to the voice of reasoning continued to makes plans to conduct the elections that would produce another traditional ruler.

“They have fixed an election without even telling us and this negates the practice of over 40 years in our community and we have it on good authority that they want to impose someone on us.”

Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Conflict Resolution Dr. Chris Asadu who received the angry villagers thanked them for the peaceful protest and promised that government will look into their complaints.



http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=120179




Cc:lalasticlala cc:ishilove

Am waiting for the Government too

Na dem know their matter