The traditional ruler of Umuawulu community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, HRM Igwe Dr. Joel Maduadichie Egwuonwu (Eze Udo II), has called on the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in the crisis rocking the community.
Two villages within the community; Enugwu and Umuenu quarters have been locked in a bitter feud over land ownership that has cost at least a life, and also led to the arrest of many.
Though the monarch hails from Umuenu Quarter, he insisted that he has remained neutral, playing his role as father of all in the community, since the disagreement started.
But people of Enugwu quarters in a protest they held recently insisted that the monarch was siding his quarters, leading to their call for his removal.
But while addressing journalists on Friday, Igwe Egwuonwu reiterated that he has remained neutral, insisting that he does not have the capacity to change anything as the matter was before a competent court.
He also called on the governor to intervene, saying that he is aware that Soludo was man of peace and would not like any community in the state to experience crisis.
He said: “I am a man of peace, and I want to also say that I’m a father to everyone in Umuawulu, and I can not take side.
“My only offence here is that I come from Umuenu, one of the disputing quarters. I have maintained the neutrality expected of a father whose children are involved in a family disagreement.
“This press conference is not to say who is right or who is wrong, it is not also to say who owns the disputed land, but to clear my name from allegations that I took side with Umuenu quarters and even called police to arrest people from Enugwu.
“What happened was that there was physical confrontation between the two quarters about the disputed land, which led to some people sustaining matchet cuts, and as you know that it is customary with police, they came and arrested those involved. How was that my cause?”
The traditional ruler appealed to Soludo to intervene, while also calling on indigenes of Umuawulu to shun actions capable of undermining peace and unity in the community, expressing hope that the ongoing legal process would ultimately bring a lasting resolution to the dispute.
David-Chyddy Eleke
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