By Ikechukwu Ozurumba
Over 50 men, women and youths from Umuojisi Autonomous Community in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State have protested in Owerri against the planned coronation of Mr. Chinedu Uzoukwu as the traditional ruler of the community.
The protesters, who converged in Owerri on Friday, August 7, carried placards with various inscriptions, including: “Save Our Soul, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, We Appeal”; “Our Traditional Stool is Hereditary, Not by Any Other Means”; “Chinedu Uzoukwu Must Go, He Is Not Our Traditional Ruler”; “We Want True Justice and Freedom”; “We Reject Chinedu Uzoukwu as Our Monarch”; and “We Want Peace, Chinedu Uzoukwu Is Not Our Eze.”
The protesters visited the Imo State
Government House and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs at the Imo State Secretariat along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, where they presented their grievances and appeals to the authorities.
Speaking with journalists, some of the community representatives, including 83-year-old Mr. Irokansi Donatus, the community’s Woman Leader, Mrs. Elizabeth Eze, leader of the Umuada (daughters of the community), Mrs. Merry Nsofo, and Acting Youth Leader, Mr. Iheabuotu Friday, said the protest was aimed at preventing what they described as a premature coronation.
The protesters maintained that the traditional stool of Umuojisi is hereditary and governed by the community’s customs, traditions and constitution.
According to them, following the death of their former traditional ruler and after the completion of the mourning period, the community commenced the process of presenting his son, Prince Uchenna Nwachukwu, as his successor.
They alleged that Mr. Uzoukwu subsequently obtained a court judgment which paved the way for his recognition and the eventual issuance of a staff of office by the Imo State Government.
The protesters, however, contended that the matter remains subject to an appeal and that the government had been notified of the pending legal process.
They therefore appealed to the state government to suspend any proposed coronation of Mr. Uzoukwu until the Court of Appeal delivers its decision, saying such a step would help prevent tension and possible breakdown of law and order in the community.
In a letter titled, “Follow-up Protest and Appeal to Stop the Purported Coronation of Mr. Chinedu Uzoukwu as Umuojisi Traditional Ruler,” the Concerned Citizens of Umuojisi, represented by the Umuada, Women Wing and Youth Wing, said they were acting in solidarity with the Eze-in-Council, traditional stakeholders and what they described as the majority of the people of the community.
The group appealed to the state government to urgently intervene in what it described as an unresolved dispute over the recognition of Mr. Uzoukwu as traditional ruler.
The letter stated that the Eze-in-Council and other community stakeholders had followed what they described as constitutional, customary and legal procedures, including filing protests, serving notices of appeal, adopting community resolutions and submitting correspondences to relevant authorities.
The protesters expressed concern that, despite their earlier representations, no concrete action had been taken to address their grievances.
They said the latest protest was undertaken in the interest of peace, justice and the preservation of the traditional institution of Umuojisi.
Also presented to the authorities was a letter from the Eze-in-Council titled, “Strong Protest Against the Purported Recognition of Mr. Chinedu Uzoukwu as Traditional Ruler of Umuojisi Autonomous Community.”
The letter, signed by representatives of nine out of the ten villages that make up the autonomous community, described the recognition of Uzoukwu as a source of concern among the signatories.
The Eze-in-Council claimed that the community had already notified the authorities about the pending presentation of what it described as its culturally and constitutionally selected candidate.
It further stated that Okwaraejesu Village had relied on a High Court declaratory judgment concerning its position as the head village, but that the judgment was being challenged at the Court of Appeal in an appeal identified as CA/OW/333/2021.
The Eze-in-Council argued that, since the appeal was pending, the authorities ought to maintain the status quo until the appellate court reaches a determination.
The community leaders alleged that certain individuals had disregarded the pending appeal notices and other processes before the state government recognised Uzoukwu.
They consequently urged the government to review the situation and refrain from taking further steps that could aggravate the dispute.
Responding to the protesters on behalf of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Head of Department, Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Collins Nkwocha, commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully.
Nkwocha explained that the ministry takes legal advice from the Ministry of Justice on matters that are before the courts.
He assured the protesters that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would look into the issues raised, including their previous letters and representations, with a view to ensuring that due process was followed.
He also urged the protesters and other parties involved in the dispute to continue to maintain peace while efforts are made to resolve the matter.
The protesters thereafter dispersed peacefully, reiterating their call for the government to allow the judicial process to run its course before any further action is taken on the traditional stool.
