appeases Ibeku gods over the crisis

By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—THE crisis that rocked Ibeku land, Abia State in the last four months has ended as peace has returned with a reconciliatory meeting by major stakeholders, including traditional rulers in the community. Ibeku owns Umuahia, the state capital. The community was plunged into intra-communal crisis following disagreement over the December 2016 election of the town union leadership. The crisis created two leadership camps, thereby pitching brothers and sisters against one another and forestalling development.

The crisis created bitter rivalry and unnecessary tension in the community and specifically pitched prominent leaders of the community including the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Theodore Orji and his supporters against the traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Land, Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu as well as the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain and custodian of Ibeku tradition, (Ochiagha Ibeku), Chief Benjamin B. Apugo and their camps.

Eze Onuoha performing the cleansing of the Land

The crisis also divided the traditional rulers of the community with the Paramount Ruler of Ibeku Eze Samuel Onuoha (Ogurube IV) supporting the Akwukwuegbu camp, an action that led the state government to suspend him for six months. Eze Onuoha was accused of involvement in activities that were capable of thwarting the peace of the community.

However, through the efforts of some stakeholders, including the two law makers representing Umuahia in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Orji and Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, Chiefs Charles Ogbonnaya, Emma Nwabuko, Johnson Onuigbo, Udo Ogbonna and Iyke Onwukwe among others, the traditional rulers in Ibeku were rallied together to broker peace and the community now has a common front under the leadership of Emeka Enyeazu as the president general of Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association.

At the peace meeting held weekend at the community’s civic centre, the paramount ruler, Eze Onuoha and eight other monarchs in the community and the new President General, Enyeazu and his entire executive committee were physically present as peace was brokered. Eze Onuoha who performed the traditional pouring of libation to appease the gods blamed the crisis on politicians in the community, saying hitherto the election of the town union’s leadership had always been smooth and crisis free with the monarchs advising on the best way forward.

He, however, assured that the crisis was over and urged all Ibeku people to work together for the peace and development of the community. He also used the opportunity to recant any foul language he might have used against any of his subjects in the heat of the crisis. According to Eze Onuoha, any person who reneged on the peace agreement would have to endure the  wrath by Ibeku land.

In his remarks, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya who is also the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, regretted the four months crisis and promised to inform Governor Okezie Ikpeazu that peace had returned to Ibeku for all the rights and privileges of the Paramount Ruler of the community who was suspended during the crisis to be restored to him.