Panic in Enugwu-Agidi, as PG storms community's new yam festival with Hundreds of security

 

The people of Enugwu-Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State were bamboozled on Saturday as the President General, Hon. Chukwuebuka Onuorah stormed their new yam festival with barrads of security apparatus suspected to be members of Agunaechemba.

The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Michael Okekeuche had held a new yam festival at his palace which attracted people from all walks of life, including the State government representative, traditional rulers from different parts of the State, the villages in Enugwu-Agidi, groups, family and friends.

Onuorah, whose arrival elicited mixed reactions from the populace, was clad on black attire just as most members of his entourage and security details, went straight to where their traditional ruler, Igwe Michael Okekeuche and cabinet chiefs were seated and exchanged pleasantly with them.

But in less than ten minutes, the entourage turned and drove out of the venue without sitting or caring to receive cheers, thereby making the natives doubt his intention of attending the event after the counter protests and foiled meetings of the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Central Executive (CEC).

The CEC meeting of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union was reportedly put on hold on Friday after the Monarch, Igwe Michael Okekeuche walked out without declaring it open as constitutionally mandated because representatives of some villages and branches were allegedly beaten and denied access to the venue.

However, the President General, Onuorah, while speaking to the newsmen, alleged that only those whose branches were indebted to the union were refused entry to the meeting but others without debts attended and it went on successfully.

Onuorah, who denied allegations of engaging in land grabbing, also refuted the claims that some village and branch Chairmen were beaten by thugs and security men on his order, noting that the debtors were only prevented from the meeting and urged to make the necessary payments and enter.

He, however, commended the monarch for organising the 2025 new yam festival, expressing delight that the next year's edition would be better.

In contrast, the Mr. Ementa Nwanisiobi, insisted that the purported CEC meeting did not hold because five branch Chairmen including himself were penciled down for beaten and torture.

"You can see the scare on my face. Look at my hand. I lost my N100,000 and wristwatch when some youth descended on me at the gate. I heard from Ebuka's aide that they were instructed to beat me and some other persons. We don't know what our offences were. They tore my shirt. My village was not indebted to Ebuka or the Union," he added.

When asked if the PG has contacted him on phone to tender an apology to him for the beaten, he said he has not and may never do that because he was among those against his land grabbing motives.

To Mr. Peter Onuekwesi, who described himself as the Secretary of Mbanano land committee, added that his branch were not represented at the meeting even though they paid their dues, adding that his issue could be because he was among those kicking against the President General's alleged abuse of power.

Also speaking, Chief Nathan Ibegbunam Okoye, said they have vehemently rejected PG Onuorah due to how his government intimidates the populace, meddles in land matters and others, and appealed to the government to replace him for peace reign.

On his part, a youth from the community, Mr. Onyeka Anigbogu, said he was not happy how the President General came to the event with security and walked out again in a manner, which according to him, suggest that he was not yet ready for peace.

Contributing, the woman leader of Etiti Village, Mrs. Grace Aghauche and Mrs. Uju Ifebunso who has gone to prison for allegedly standing against the PG, called on governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in the matter to bring lasting peace to Enugwu-Agidi.

However, Engr. Victor Onwudinjo expressed optimism that peace would soon be achieved completely in Enugwu-Agidi which according to him, was displayed by the President General for attending the new yam festival although he did not sit at the venue.

Onwudinjo also explained that the process for the peace to be achieved were on, adding that the Igwe and PG have agreed to bring persons to the peace meeting in addition to those to be nominated by the Ozo traditional society, Stakeholders and others

But speaking in an interview, the monarch, Igwe Michael Okekeuche described the PG's visit to the palace on new yam festival with security as a show of might rather than peace.

Okekeuche, speaking through the Chief Press Secretary to his cabinet, Chief Ifeanyi Ndulue said he has called everyone to remain peaceful and maintain law and order.

He insisted that the meeting did not hold because those denied entry to the venue were the legitimate sons of Enugwu-Agidi who owe no debt but stopped mainly because they hold contrary opinion to the PG.

He said, "This is highly condemnable! Never again will anyone in Enugwu-Agidi be denied access to a meeting where peace and development of the community would be discussed. Never again would anyone be molested or beaten by thugs. Never again will put sons and daughters be intimidated. "

"We are witnessing what no community should ever endure: allegations of rampant land grabbing, abuse of power by those entrusted with leadership, disruption of sacred burial and funeral rites in Etiti Village, rites that bind us to our ancestors and the imposition of parallel leadership structures allegedly fueled by the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) Nigeria, threatening the unity of our people.

"These actions have sown confusion, provoked unrest, and pushed our peaceful community to the brink. We hereby call upon the Anambra State Government and all relevant security agencies to rise to their constitutional duty: to protect the lives and property of Enugwu-Agidi people, investigate the root causes of this unrest, and ensure that justice is served without fear or favour, and to support the Igwe-in-Council in restoring peace and unity.

"We are not asking for favours. We are demanding intervention, protection, and fairness, for the sake of our land, our future, and our unborn generations. In line with the powers vested in him by Article 40, Sections 1 and 6 of the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Constitution, and in accordance with the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law 2007, Section 15, Subsection (I), His Royal Highness calls on all our people to show restraint, even in the face of provocation. Let us not allow chaos to consume what generations before us laboured to build."