BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO
The traditional ruler of Umudibia Autonomous community His Royal Highness Eze Godson Merenini, Dibia 1 has called on Umuoma Nekede and Umualum Nekede to stay clear of the host Community.
Merenini hinted the press few hours ago that his Community Umudibia is the sole host to FEDERAL POLYTHECNIC NEKEDE and therefore call on Umuoma and Umualum to stay clear mostly as it concerns the appointment of a representative member of the council from the area.
9News Nigeria reports that the people of Umudibia autonomous community in Owerri, Imo State, have said that there was the need to set the records straight, regarding which community rightly plays host to Federal Polytechnic, Nekede (FEDPONEK).
While speaking futher, Eze Godwin Merenini (Dibia I), said there was no room for controversy over the issue of actual host as the truth was already known by all stakeholders.
He said that Umudibia autonomous community hosts only the polytechnic and has never laid host claim to any of the institutions hosted by the neighbouring communities.
According to him, Umuoma community, for instance, is one of the communities hosting Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Umudibia has never contested that position with them.
He however wondered why Umuoma and Umualum communities still want to share in the benefits deserving to Umudibia while they are of three different Autonomous.
He mentioned that the just concluded 2021 presidential visitation panel to the FEDPONEK, noted that the court judgment declaring Umudibia community, Owerri West, the sole host community to the polytechnic still stands.
The monarch had earlier cited references to the judgement of court that Confirmed Umudibia Community the host to FEDPONEK.
Recall that few weeks ago, the PRESIDENTIAL PANEL visited FEDPONEK to confirm the actual position of the host community after which Umudibia Autonomous community was authenticated by the court judgement.
Meanwhile, the appellate court judgement is in the waiting while the statusquo has remained.
Information revealed to us was that both Umuoma Nekede and Umualum Nekede have their revenue base and host benefits from various establishments in their respective communities.
He however wondered why the eyes of the traditional rulers of these Communities mentioned above are still on FEDPONEK.
According to Eze Merenini, “again, It would be of great benefit even to posterity if all these communities will abide by the court ruling of 2018 and respect our boundaries, independence, autonomy and peaceful co-existence as neighbouring autonomous communities.
He also made reference to some of the establishments owned by the then Imo state before its brother state ABIA was created and asked if both states are still sharing the same hosts after state autonomy.
On the claim that Umuoma and Umualum Nekede contributed to the construction of FEDPONEK through Community efforts and manual labour is a capital lie. He added that it was Okigwe construction company that constructed the school from earth surfacing to completion as stated in their contract bid.
A call in the right direction is to set this record straight to inform Umuoma and Umudibia to remove their mind from Fedponek host Community and agree to resolve this lingering crises which he said was ochestrated by misinformation, selfishness and greed.
To douse this tension therefore, Eze Dibia-1 have insisted that Umudibia are FEDPONEK Host, tell Umuoma Nekede and Umualum Nekede to obey court order…,he warned.
On the contrary, the MONARCHS of Umuoma Nekede and Umualum Nekede have insisted that their respective communities be ADDED to the FEDPONEK Hosts.
A matter that is standing on Appeal means that Umudibia should not claim victory yet until the matter is disposed of by the Appeal Court.They ( Umudibia ) should therefore obey the Appeal Court provisions…HRH EZE Morrison Eke PhD.Omadike of Umuoma Nekede Autonomous community hinted.
Eze Merenini had earlier commended the wonderful relationship Umudibia has with FEDPONEK and the rector Dr Arimanwa and promised to protect the interest of his kingdom Umudibia.
He maintained that Umudibia and FEDPONEK will continue to extend the hands of fellowship to both Communities and adviced both traditional rulers to tell their Communities the simple truth and the truth will set them free.
Stay tuned to 9News Nigeria for more updates.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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