Enugwu-Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State has been in crisis resulting in a protest and counter protests over alleged land grabbing, brutalisation, totalitarianism and intimidation of villagers.
Some of the protesters demanded that the community’s monarch, Igwe Michael Okekeuche should be dethroned while majority of others demanded for the sack of their President General, Hon. Chukwuebuka Onuorah.
The protesters, who separately took to the streets and village markets to rent their angers, displayed placards of different inscriptions as well as sang solidarity songs to disperse each others opponents.
Speaking to the media, Mr Vincent Onyekwelu, accused the President General of being highhanded, creating factional leadership across the villages and branches of the community unions, including the youth and women wings.
“Our PG is not following the constitution of the town union. I have sent video evidence the government officials of how he used thugs to disrupt burial and other communal gatherings. He is in charge of land grabbing. Most of our lands have been sold. Our women no longer go to markets. We want the government to remove him,” he complained.
Also speaking, Hon. Mrs Grace Aghauche, leader of Etiti Village women wing, alleged that the President General organised an election to replace her in the month of June instead of waiting for the month of December when they normally meet.
“Our election is usually by December, but the PG organised the election by June. This is against our constitution. Again, women election are not organised by men. We have submitted reports of this to Anambra State Commissioner of women affairs,” Aghauche added.
On her part, a woman from Etiti Village Enugwu-Agidi, Mrs Amarachi Egbeonu, alleged that the PG intruded into their village women wing election by imposing another leadership, which according to her, amounts to illegality.
But Mrs Nneka Offor, who was part of another group of protesters clad in black uniform, exonerated Ebuka from the accusations, insisting that the PG was their saviour while the monarch was the troublesome one.
“Ebuka is our leader. We love him. He doesn’t engage in land grabbing. We want his government to continue. Igwe is the one causing trouble in our community and should be dethroned for peace to reign,” she added.
However, when contacted at Enugwu-Agidi town hall, the venue slated for the Central Executive Council meeting of Enugu-Agidi Brotherly Union, the President General, Hon. Ebuka Onuorah described the protests as a ploy to stop the proposed meeting.
In a contrast, the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Agidi, Igwe Michael Okekeuche, in a press conference addressed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ifeanyi Ndulue charged anyone with useful information about him engaging in land grabbing to come forward.
“We hereby call upon the Anambra State Government and all relevant security
agencies to rise to their constitutional duty: to protect the lives and property of
Enugwu-Agidi people, to investigate the root causes of this unrest, to ensure justice
is served without fear or favour, and to support the Igwe-in-Council in restoring
peace and unity. We are not asking for favours. We are demanding intervention,
protection, and fairness, for the sake of our land, our future, and our unborn
generations,” he called.
