The Member Representing Mbaitoli State Constituency in the Imo State House Of Assembly, Hon Engr Sir Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie has offered the olive branch by appealing to the people of Obi-Mbieri community in Mbaitoli local government area to withdraw all litigations against themselves and give peace a chance to once more flourish in the community.
Hon Ikpamezie made the plea during an interaction with stakeholders and leaders of Obi-Mbieri Autonomous community in a scheduled meeting held at the Imo State House of Assembly, to find lasting solution to the lingering crisis linked to the Ezeship stool of Obi-Mbieri Autonomous community. The vibrant lawmaker who described Obi-Mbieri community as one of the most peaceful communities in Mbaitoli local government and the State before the present crisis, appealed for calm and requested that all legal matters tearing the community’s Ezeship stool apart be dropped, to ensure peaceful co-existence, socio-political and economic development and prosperity.
In his words, Hon Impamezie, whose one of his numerous chieftaincy titles is OMEUDO (Peacemaker) said, “You elected me to represent you in the Imo State House Of Assembly under the platform of APC, but I am representing Mbaitoli irrespective of party affiliation. During my campaign, I pledged to make peace and bring unity in all the autonomous communities in Mbaitoli. I cannot be representing you at the legislative arm of government, when some communities at not in peace. There are 34 autonomous communities in Mbaitoli, and it is my duty to ensure there is peace, so that I can attract development and solve unemployment problem. Our hardworking Governor, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma has concluded plans to bring massive investments and development to Mbaitoli, particularly, to Obi-Mbieri. But can investment and development function where there is crisis and conflict? The answer is No. I am therefore here to reconcile everybody in Obi-Mbieri Community. I am here to bring peace in Obi-Mbieri. Trouble, misunderstanding, loggerheads and crisis does not bring development. Obi-Mbieri must move forward. Obi-Mbieri must function well. Obi-Mbieri must move from glory to glory”.
Speaking further, Hon Ikpamezie said, “Peace is the absence of conflict and it is characterized by cooperation, love and understanding. But conflict is a state of disagreement. I am here for peace, hence I have not only offered this Olive branch, I am also giving an Olive tree. Olive tree brings not only peace, but it comes with joy, development, wealth and prosperity. After this peace meeting, there will be another meeting, this time, in Obi-Mbieri. I want to be remembered for bringing peace in Obi-Mbieri”. The pragmatic and youthful lawmaker concluded.
Contributing, some stakeholders and leaders of Obi-Mbieri thanked Hon Ikpamezie for initiating the peace move and inviting them. They agreed with the lawmaker that their community needed peace for development to strive. However, they went further to explain the genesis of the crisis in their community.
For Chief Jah Osuji, who is the Public Relations Officer in the Eze’s cabinet, “the crisis in the community came up due to the ill-health of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Elder Dr Josiah Nzeremibe, and who travelled out of the country in search of better healthcare. In his long absence, the Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Kyrian Ndikom, who was formerly a village head, was appointed to act on his behalf. Unfortunately, some persons who are desperate to become traditional ruler, formed a cartel and issued a letter claiming that the Traditional Prime Minister (Chief Kyrian Ndikom) has been removed. The issue of Traditional Prime Minister is what is causing serious problem in Obi-Mbieri Community. I am happy our Honourable Member has stepped into the matter”.
Chief Uche Samuel Oparaugo, who is the President General of Obi-Mbieri Improvement Union, described their traditional ruler, HRH Elder Dr Josiah Nzeremibe as a good man, who has been down with ill-health, and as a result, some persons have been writing petitions, with the aim to have him dethroned. In his words, he said, “Chief Kyrian Ndikom was appointed as Traditional Prime Minister, and we accepted and congratulated him. But less than one month after, there was a conspiracy and purported claim alleging that he has been removed. Officials in the Palace are the ones creating problems, and have refused to attend peace meetings. They want to take over Obi-Mbieri Traditional Stool by force, but we are resisting them. Moving forward, we want to see our traditional ruler, or at least, to know his State of health”.
Chief Jeto Nwadi, who is the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, stated that a traditional ruler shouldn’t leave his domain. He appealed to the State government to invoke the powers and put things right.
Barrister Sir Anthony Ibe, who is the Secretary of PAJAC, explained that the absence of the traditional ruler created a vacuum, which resulted in some persons coming together to form a cartel in the palace. According to him, the critical health condition of the traditional ruler made everybody to be giving directives and counter directives, to the extent that the children of the traditional ruler have been brainwashed with issues, which are even against their father.
Hon Mrs Nkeiru livinus, who described herself as the woman leader, explained that their late Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Simon Anonugbo, was falsely accused by the cartel of diverting over N3,000,000, but it was later found out to be false allegation, which had led to his untimely death. According to her, “we have no issues with our respected traditional ruler, but the cartel should be cautioned. They should be warned to stop causing trouble”.
For Hon Chief Dave Anoruo, a Major Stakeholder in Obi-Mbieri Community, “Our constitution says a traditional ruler is Eze for life. But some persons in the cartel have built palaces, waiting in the wings for our revered Eze to die, so that they can be enthroned. Ordinarily, our Eze deals with our village heads, but things have changed, because the cartel disrupted the leadership process. The cartel have been issuing fake directives”. He thereafter pleaded with Hon Innocent Ikpamezie to use his good office to solve the crisis in Obi-Mbieri community. He also called on Chief Uzoma Ekeanyanwu, who was present, to let peace to reign, and to stop allowing himself to be used to instigate more crisis.
When Chief Uzoma Ekeanyanwu was called up to speak, he commended Hon Engr Innocent Ikpamezie, describing him as a good leader. “Respect is reciprocal. You respectfully invited us because you want peace to reign”, He said. He further said that he dragged the traditional ruler to court because the community had been without leadership, and the whereabouts of the Eze, unknown. He however pledged to withdraw his court case, and called on others who are equally in court over the same matter to withdraw their cases . He went further and suggested that before the oncoming peace meeting at Obi-Mbieri, that few selected stakeholders should go into close door meeting with Hon Engr Innocent Ikpamezie, with a view of coming out with a firm resolution.
Nze Bon Chinedu said the vote of thanks.
Other persons who attended the peace meeting called by Hon Engr Innocent Ikpamezie included, Chief Richard A. C. Uwandu, Chief Ucheha, Barrister Ikechukwu Nkwopara and many others, including youths.
Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha reports from IMHA Owerri.
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