Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
The traditional ruler of Ihie Autonomous Community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, His Royal Highness, Eze Gabriel Uzoma Okoro, the Odu II, other members of the traditional rulling council and youths of the community have condemned the alleged physical attacks, destruction of houses and other inhuman treatment being carried out on innocent citizens of the community by suspected thugs loyal to the former Town Union Caretaker Chairman Mr. Orji Elijah.
The traditional ruler and others who decried the activities of the former Town Union President called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to immediately wade into the looming crisis in the community to avoid it’s escalation into a communal crisis.
In an interview with Journalists in Abakaliki, the Monarch traced the fledging crisis in the area to December last year when the Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Orji Elijah Okechukwu was requested to give account of his stewardship from January 2020 to December 2023.
According to him, Mr. Orji Elijah Okechukwu has been selling the land of the community indiscriminately, refused to account for her and has been allegedly recruiting thugs to terrorize, maim and destroy properties in Ihie community.
“It was December last year that I invited Orji Elijah Okechukwu to give account of his stewardship as the chairman of the community because he has been selling the land that belongs to the community without the consent of the community.
“He said that instead I will remove him form his position, he will rather dethrone me. He quarelled and left my palace that December and left. I travelled to Aba that December while in Aba, I was called that I have been removed as the Eze of the community that the news was everywhere. I told them that I have never seen where a traditional ruler is dethroned alive that there will not be peace in such a community.
“He mobilized to one chiefs house and set his properties ablaze. I was calm and watching him. They also attacked and destroyed the property of my prime minister. My former prime minister was removed because he joined him and they have been parading him as the new traditional ruler.
“I had earlier arrested him over impersonation. What they did was to start destroying the properties of some members of the community. Anyone that visits my house will be fined for coming to my house.
“What I want now as a traditional ruler is lasting peace. My appeal to government is to arrest the Perpetrators of this heinous crime so that they will understand that it is a taboo to kill anyone. So that they can sheath their sword for peace to reign.
Speaking also, the Palace Secretary, Barr Damian Ajah disclosed that the remote cause of the crisis in Ihie community was the refusal of Mr. Orji Elijah Okechukwu to appear before the traditional rulers’ council to account for his stewardship.
He further disclosed that the crisis re-erupted when the Ivo local government chairman fixed a parallel new yam festival resulted into violent attacks in the community.
Mr. Orji Elijah Okechukwu who in his characteristic nature of thuggery usually fermenting violence went mobilized his boys, his lieutenants, they came on that day through the town crying medium went round Ishiagu community disseminating the unfounded date for the new yam festival of Ihie Autonomous community which has already been fixed for Saturday the 28th day of September, 2024 is not going to hold.
Then much to our chagrin, the chiefs in the palace and his royal highness on the night of 26th of September, we saw a press statement circulated in the media issued by the local government area chairman in the person of Chief Ajah Emmanuel Ogbonnaya that every cultural activity billed to be held in Ihie autonomous community between the period of 26th to 30th of September has been cancelled and banned.
“The remote cause of the crisis happening at the present is the blatant refusal of Mr. Oji Elijah Okechukwu to appear before the palace of the traditional ruler the the council of elders of Ihie autonomous community to give account of his stewardship while in office as the caretaker chairman of Ihie autonomous community between the period of January 2020 and December 2023.
“I am one of the victims of the attack. I was attacked in the morning of 31st August, 2024. We have other palace chiefs that were attacked and some other members of the community who were not connected with the crisis.
Some of their names are Chief Chukwu Godwin Uchenna, the palace PRO of the Ihie traditional ruling council, not that he was attacked, they unleashed serious mayhem on him. He sustained serious injuries. His phone was also ceased and still with them. Chief Onwudiegwu Ngbabu, one of the palace chiefs, they went to his shop raided and ravaged it.
Mr. Ovia Innocent Uchechukwu who just established a beer parlour shop was attacked also. The reason for attacking him is because his father Chief Gilbert is one of the Chiefs in the palace of His Royal Highness the Odu II. They said since they cannot get hold of Chief Gilbert Okoro that they know where his son is and the best thing to is to attack his son.
Mr. Ndubusisi John Daniel Samuel from Umuchoke in Ihe autonomous community said je was also attacked.
“I was one of the victims that was attacked just because my father is a palace chief. Because they could not get my father, they came and attacked me. They summoned meeting that we should come to make peace in our community. When we got there, I was telling them that there was no need for violence that we ahold make peace.
“I told them there was no need for us to be fighting with gun and cutlasses rather we should make lasting peace in our community. Suddenly machete landed on my left hand. They nearly killed me that day. So, we are calling on the Ebonyi State Governor to intervene in the matter in order to forestall further attack. We are yet to see government effort in making peace in our community. The local government chairman should be called to order. We are in trouble, all of us are in trouble.
“I was attacked by one Festus Nwafor and the SA to the Chairman. The Ivo local government area chairman is aware of this and he did not do anything. We have been expecting him to make lasting peace in our community, but we are not seeing the peace rather violence by chasing us with guns and machetes”, he said
When contacted, Mr. Orji Elijah denied the allegations and accused the traditional ruler of high-handedness. Ends.
