People of Isiama Afaraukwu Umuahia have cried to the Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti to prevail on the police to stop harassing and intimidating community leaders over land compensation money paid by government.
They also decried the “imposition of traditional ruler on the community by the last administration” and urged Otti to withdraw the staff of office and set in motion the process that would allow the community to freely choose its royal father.
Community leaders specifically accused the DPO in charge of the Umuahia Divisional headquarters of using his men to sustain the harassment thereby keeping the community leaders on edge.
Things escalated on Thursday September 4 when a team of policemen from the Umuahia Division(CPS) allegedly invaded the home of the President General of Isiama Afaraukwu and destroyed his belongings when they couldn’t find him.
The spokesperson of the Abia Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka when contacted over the police activites at Isiama Afaraukwu, especially the invasion of a private home and destruction of properties, said she didn’t know about the incident.
However, she promised to contact the concerned DPO of the division alleged to have been causing the uneasiness at Isiama Afaraukwu, before issuing a statement on the matter.
Immediayely after the invasion of their PG’s home on Thursday mornjng, Isiama Afaraukwu people had risen up in protest and marched down to Government House Umuahia and registered their complaints with the Governor.
The protesters, who trooped out in their hundreds, were received by government officials, including the Chief Security Officer, Ken Nwosu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Magdalena Ugoanusi.
They demanded the withdrawal of the staff of office given to Chief Amechi Kelvin Ugwueje by the past administration “without following due process”, saying that he was imposed on the commumity as a reward for supporting the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general election.
The traditional stool of the community was last occupied by Israel Kanu, the father of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
However the stool became vacant following the death of Kanu’s father not long after the army invaded his palace on September 14, 2017. There has been a lingering dispute over the right person to ascend the throne.
Spokesman of the protesters, Mr. Ikechukwu Ndubueze, said that staff of office was “hurriedly and dubiously” given to Ugwueje as compensation for working for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) led government of Okezie Ikpeazu.
He said that the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Christopher Enweremadu masterminded the presentation of staff of office without allowing the people of Isiama Afaraukwu to conclude the process of choosing their king.
Both the President General of Isiama Afaraukwu Women Wing, Mrs. Victoria Chinwe Ojinta, and the Chairperson of Ndagbo village, Mrs Chinwe Nnorom, vehemently condemned the police for being used to hound community leaders.
The women leaders appealed to Governor Otti to intervene and resolve the lingering kingship dispute in their community so that peace could return. They stated that it was at the instance of Chief Ugwueje that the police have been harrasing their community.
Addressing the protesters, the SSA on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs assured them that Governor Otti would look into the issues they have raised and thanked them for using peaceful means to express their grievances.
Speaking with our correspondent, Ndubueze, who is a former PG of Isiama Afaraukwu, said that the police were invited by Chief Ugwueje when he was denied control of the money government paid the community as compensation for land acquisition.
He stated the invasion of the PG’s home caused his aged mother to slump on seeing the destruction of her son’s properties by the police.
