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Tag: Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

  • Ikpeazu promises more support for health institution

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has assured management, staff and students of Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology of his administration’s desire to make teaching and learning more conducive in the institution.

    The governor made the assurance through his deputy Ude Oko Chukwu at the 8th matriculation ceremony of the college.

    He also promised to assist in upgrading the college’s facilities in order to ensure the institution graduates students who are well equipped with the right theoretical and practical knowledge.

    Oko Chukwu said the state government would continue to promote policies that would guarantee a cconducive atmosphere for teaching and learning in all educational institutions in state, adding that as one of its major cardinal pillars, it would continue to evolved policies and programmes that would take teaching and learning in the school and other institutions of learning in the state to a greater height.

    The institution will equally get regular subvention from the state government, the deputy governor promised, hailing the rector and management of the college for their prudence.

    He also commended the rector Prof Felix Ezeama and his team over infrastructural facelift in the school and for ensuring that courses offered in the school by the students has been accredited.

    Congratulating the matriculating students, he charged them to be studious and refrain from activities such as cultism and other social vices capable of hampering their academic pursuit in the institution. This is even as he warned that the full weight of the law would be meted out on any student found to be member(s) of any cult group or groups whose activities threatens the relative peace the institution and the state is enjoying at the moment.

    The Rector of the school thanked the governor for the support the institution has received from the state government and the numerous developmental projects completed and ongoing in Aba and other parts of the state and further hinted that a total of 1,368 Students participated in the matriculation exercise.

     

  • Updated: NJC sacks suspended Abia Chief Judge Uzokwe, one other

    *Set up committees to Supreme Court Justice, 2 state Chief Judges

    *Issues warning to Justice Aladetoyinbo, Williams

    *Dismisses petitions against 31 judges

    *Appoints 60 judges for 24 states

     

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State the compulsory retirement of the state’s suspended Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe and Justice Obisike Oji, who was picked in her place.

    This formed part of the decisions taken at the NJC’s 85th meeting held on March 14.

    The NJC had earlier suspended Justice Uzokwe, and issued a query to Justice Oji (of of Abia State High Court) for allowing himself to be sworn-in as Acting Chief Judge when the Abia State House of Assembly purportedly sacked Justice Uzokwe.

    According to the NJC, Justices Uzokwe and Oji were found guilty of misconduct.

    NJC’s Director, Information, Soji Oye, said in a statement that the council also set up committees to Supreme Court Justice, 2 state Chief Judges.

    The statement was silent on the identity of the judicial officers involved.

    The NJC issued warning to Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo (of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Justice Olusola Ajibike Williams of the Lagos State High Court.

    It referred a petition against Justice Mwada Balami of the FCT High Court to the Police to investigate the allegation of N5, 000,000 (Five Million Naira) bribe to the Judge for granting bail to an accused person.

    The NJC dismissed petitions against 31 judges for being without substance and approved the appointment of 60 judges for 24 states.

    In relation to Justice Uzokwe, the NJC said she was recommended for compulsory retirement following the findings of two investigative committees set up to examine the petitions against her by Abia State’s  Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice,  Umeh Kalu (SAN).

    NJC said Kalu, in the petitions, accused Uzokwe of  illegal constitution and working with a parallel Judicial Service Commission (JSC) instead of the one constituted by the State Governor and confirmed by the House of Assembly.

    It added: “Hon. Mr Justice Uzokwe was also found to have misconducted himself in Suit No. HU/131/2005, wherein he delivered judgement in the sum of N825, 000 (eight hundred and twenty-five thousand naira) only in favour of a litigant, but subsequently signed a garnishee order of N109, 612, 500 (one hundred and nine million, six hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred naira) only.”

    As it relates to Justice Oji, the NJC noted that it had earlier queried him “for allowing himself to be sworn-in as acting Chief Judge, and thereby colluding in, and aiding an unconstitutional process.

    “His (Justice Oji’s) reply was unsatisfactory and the Council recommended his compulsory retirement.

    “The NJC reprimanded, seriously warned and placed on the Watch List Hon Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo of the FCT High Court for impropriety in a case between U.L.O. Consultants Ltd v BIL Construction Nigeria Ltd, sequel to a petition by one Uche Luke Okpuno.

    “Council would have sanctioned the judge more severely, but had to take into account the fact that aspects of the case are appealable.

    “Council also seriously warned Hon Justice Olusola Ajibike Williams of the Lagos State High Court for grave errors of judgment in her level of involvement in a family business. “Council found that the judge, as a judicial officer, should have been more circumspect and conscious of her office.

    “Council’s sanction was as a result of a petition by Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams, SAN.

    “Council at the meeting also considered various petitions written against thirty-one (31) judicial officers and resolved to empanel three investigative committees against one Justice of Supreme Court and two state Chief Judges.

    “Petitions against various Justices were dismissed either for lack of merit, lack of evidence of misconduct, being sub judice or that the subject of such petitions were matters for appeal.”

    The dismissed petitions were those written against Justices Abdu Aboki, Theresa Abadua and Ahmed Belgore (all of the Court of Appeal); Justices J. T. Tsoho, Ayo Emmanuel, Sabiu Yahusa, Zainab B. Abubakar and B. O. Quadri (of the Federal High Court).

    Others are Justices A. N. Ubaka and B. B. Kanyip (of the National Industrial Court); Justices Bello Kawu, S. C. Orji, A. N. Talba (of the FCT High Court); Justice K. C. Nwankpa (High Court Abia State); Justice D. A. Onyefulu (High Court Anambra State); Justice W. I. A. Effiong (High Court Akwa-Ibom State), and Justice A. M. Ikpambese (High Court Benue State).

    Equally affected are Justice G. E. Gbemre (High Court Delta State); Justice A. O. Onovo (High Court Enugu State); Justice Idi Apollos (High Court Gombe State); Justice G. O. Ogunsanya (High Court Ogun State); Justice A. B. Abdulkarim, (High Court Osun State); Justice K. A. Ojiako (High Court Imo State); Justices A. M. Lawal;  L. A. Okunnu and L. B. Lawal Akapo (all of High Court  Lagos State).

    The statement also said the NJC “decided to advise Hon. Mr. Justice J. E. Ikede of Delta State High Court and Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court to be more careful in the course of their judicial duties.

    “Council decided to refer a petition by Prince Adesina Okuneye against Hon. Mr. Justice Mwada Balami of the FCT High Court to the Police to investigate the allegation of N5, 000,000 (five million naira) bribe to the judge for granting bail to an accused person.

    “Council decided that the petition should be put in abeyance until the outcome of the investigation by the Police.

    “Council at the meeting also recommended 60 judicial officers to Governors of twenty-four (24) for appointment as High Court Judges, Sharia Court Kadis and Customary Court of Appeal Judges.”

  • Abia Secondary school student dies after taking enhancement drug

    Abia Secondary school student dies after taking enhancement drug

    A Junior Secondary School student in Ohafia, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State whose identity is yet to be known, has reportedly died after he allegedly took ten tablets of Tramadol tablets.

    This was disclosed by the State Commandant of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Akindele Akingbade on Wednesday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital while delivering lecture at a seminar his agency and Office of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Narcotics and Abia State Drug Abuse Control Committee (ADCC) for patent drug dealers in Abia Central.

    According to Akingbade, the student was said to have taken the tablets to enhance his performance during an inter-house sports competition being organized in his school that he was billed to participate in, but however could not live to see the event as he was said to have died shortly after taking the drugs.

    The NDLEA Boss, who disclosed that Abia was among top ranked states in the country with high level of drug/substance abuse stated that the Governor of the state has been informed about the incident, said that efforts were being made to apprehend the seller as being directed by the Governor.

    Akingbade who warned patent drug dealers against selling drugs without prescription from medical doctors or pharmacists to desist from such action and attributed high rate of criminal activities including armed robbery, rape, kidnapping etc as the negative effects of allowing illicit drugs or its substitute to get into the wrong hands.

    He stated that apart from the agency’s resolve to take the awareness campaign against selling of harmful drugs to the abusers, they (NDLEA) had begun encouraging schools to establish Drug Free Clubs in their schools in order to discourage students from abusing drugs or taking illicit drugs. This is even as he noted that the dangerous effects of abusing drugs or consumption of illicit drugs on human health are better prevented than treated.

    In his speech, the Director Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health and chairman ADCC, Chief Chimezie Uzuegbu, and Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Ikpeazu, David Anyanwu commended the NDLEA over their “tireless” efforts in ensuring that the activities of drug dealers and users were brought to its lowest ebb.

    Anyanwu while calling for proper funding of NDLEA by the federal government said that he was sure that the agency would do more if they should have the necessary logistics and manpower needed to do their jobs effectively.

    Read Also: Drug Abuse: Senate unveils framework to tackle menace in Nigeria

  • Residents to contractor: return to site

    Residents to contractor: return to site

    Residents of Ovom and Waterside areas of Aba, Abia State, have been groaning since a contractor handling a major road linking their communities to other parts of the commercial city abandoned work about a year ago.

    The road and Waterside Bridge were in disrepair until the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration started fixing the road. Since the contractor stopped work, the residents have been agonising over their fate.

    Some of the residents and other road users who spoke to our reporter over the leaching of some parts of the bridge expressed fears that it could collapse soon if nothing is done quickly.

    They urged the state administration to order the contractor back to site. They also demanded that if the contractor is found to be incompetent, the government should replace him with somebody who will do a good job.

    When our reporter visited the site, equipment of the contractor were seen rusting, an indication that it was long they have been abandoned at the site.

    Some of the respondents including a man that gave his name simply as Chima who spoke to our reporter want the state government to deploy a team of experts to the site to assess the situation and fashion out a better way to address it.

    “The truth is that we were happy when the state government under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu started working on the road and the bridge. If you look around, you will see how they were able to check what could have been erosion menace in the area. We were surprised that the contractor over a year now has not been to the site.

    “This road was designed to link Azumini-Opobo Road, Emelogu, Pepple, Aguwa, Akpu and Ngwa roads with the city centre in such a way that if you are going to Azumini, Ovom or Opobo road, you don’t need to get to Bata or Ogbor Hill, that is when you are coming from Port Harcourt Road or Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.

    “But here we are, if you go up to Good Morning Market and other parts of Ngwa Road, you will be able to see how the contractor abandoned the work and left till date. The erosion which is washing away parts of the bridge started gradually and if care is not taken and government does not do anything to address the situation, we are afraid that by the next time you will come here as we are entering rainy season, this bridge will be impassible. We are afraid that we are going to be cut off from the rest of the city center.

    “I want to use this opportunity to call upon our dear listening governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and our brother who is the commissioner of works, Hon. Eziuche Ubani to come and ensure that the situation is addressed now before it gets out of hand. They should mandate the contractor to come back to site or engage another competent hand that can address the situation and complete this project. It is a project that is dear to us because we know the economic and social benefits that we stand to gain if this road project is completed. But importantly, they should come and fix this erosion now that it is still small before it becomes full-blown.

     

  • Get your voter cards, says Ikpeazu

    Get your voter cards, says Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to get their voter cards to enable them to vote for candidates of their choice in next year’s elections.

    Ikpeazu, who spoke in Asaba, the Delta state capital during a PDP stakeholders meeting, said the was working to ensure that Abians exercised their rights.

    “In Abia, we encourage our people who do not have voters card to go and get theirs and be ready for 2019. If you don’t have voter card which is your power to vote, you will not have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of your choice. So I encourage PDP members everywhere to go and get their voters card.” Ikpeazu said.

    National Chairman of PDP Prince Uche Secondus said: “The weakest point in the history of the PDP is that we lost in the 2015 elections but, we should take advantage of the monumental failure of the APC, they came with a government of vengeance, we must emphasise that our people must have voters’ cards because Nigerians want us to come together and rescue the country in 2019.”

    “The NWC is here (Asaba) to consult with our governors and we are presenting our road map to victory to them, On Tuesday, we will consult with members of the National Assembly,”

    Secondus who was at the event with NWC members said the PDP will wrestle power from the APC through aggressive awareness campaign for members of the party at the local government and ward levels to have their voters’ cards, assuring that the PDP has been repositioned with strong emphasis on the power of the people, the electorates who will always be given the chance to make their choice in a free, and fair manner without fear.

  • Abia suspends CJ for alleged tyranny

    Abia suspends CJ for alleged tyranny

    GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State yesterday appointed Justice Obisike Oji as the Acting Chief Judge of the state moments after the State House of Assembly suspended the incumbent, Justice Theresa Uzokwe. He was immediately sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office. Ikpeazu said the appointment became expedient following receipt of a resolution of the House suspending Uzokwe. He said Oji, who is next to Uzokwe, was sworn in, in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    The governor, who expressed worry over the recent developments in the state judiciary, urged Oji to take immediate steps to restore the confidence of the people in the judiciary. Responding, Orji said he appreciated the enormous responsibility of his office and promised not to betray the confidence and trust reposed in him. He also promised to put the necessary machinery in place to restore the confidence of the people in the state’s judicial system.

    The House of Assembly suspended Uzokwe over allegations of acts of tyranny, infamy, gross misconduct and incompetence. Abia judiciary had been rocked by crisis following the dissolution and reconstitution of the State Judicial Service Commission by the governor in November 2017. It was, however, alleged that Uzokwe did not recognise the new body. She was also alleged to have refused to recognise and work with the new Chief Registrar, Mr Benson Anya, who was appointed by the new commission to replace, Mrs Elizabeth Akwiwu- Chukwu, who was sacked following the dissolution of the commission. The crisis in the judiciary reached a climax on Thursday when Uzokwe allegedly closed all the courts in the state and invited all the judiciary workers to a meeting in Umuahia. The State Assembly ,in suspending Uzokwe yesterday, accused her of tyranny and gross misconduct.

    The assembly acted on a January 22 petition presented as a matter of urgent public importance by the member representing Ukwa West Constituency, Mr Mezie Nwubani. The petitioners -Dr Anthony Agbazuere and Mr Obinna Nkume, the Executive Director and Director, Legal Services of the Global Centre for Peace and Justice, an Umuahia-based non-governmental organization – asked the assembly to “save the administration of justice in Abia.” In the petition captioned“ Justice Theresa Uzokwe’s unending acts of tyranny, infamy, gross misconduct and incompetence”, Agbazuere and Nkume also accused the chief judge of acts of lawlessness and disrespect to state authorities, and denigration of the office of the chief judge.

    The other allegations included financial malfeasance and embezzlement of funds and “morbid hatred for Abia and her citizens”, among others. Nwubani cited the provisions of Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which, according to him, empower the house to investigate the allegations against the chief judge.

    The member representing Isiala-Ngwa North, Chief Martins Azubuike, also urged the House to be properly guided by Section 36 of the Constitution, which provided for fair hearing in handling the petition. In a motion moved by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Chief Solomon Akpulonu, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Chief Abraham Oba, they urged the House to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations. Speaker Chikwendu Kalu, announced the suspension of the chief judge and mandated the governor to appoint an acting chief judge “in order not to create a lacuna within the justice system in the state”. Kalu also announced the constitution of an eightmember committee, headed by the member representing Obingwa West, Mr Thomas Nkoro, to investigate the chief judge’s actions. The committee had seven days to report its findings to the house.

  • Abia’s example

    Abia’s example

    True to his vision to develop the shoe making industry in Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu announced in his New Year speech that 30 local shoemakers were scheduled to leave for the People’s Republic of China on January 5. This first batch is part of 100 the Ikpeazu administration plans to send to China to learn automated shoemaking technology. The governor said the government would be responsible for the trainees’ flight tickets, feeding, accommodation and stipends while in China.

    This is a positive development towards achieving the state government’s goal to improve the quality of shoes made in Aba, a well-known shoemaking hub.  According to the governor, when the trainees return “we will procure the full range of equipment required to set up an Abia State Automated Shoe Factory in Aba,” adding, “These youths will form the nucleus of the workforce in the factory.”  This factory is expected to be opened before June, Ikpeazu said.  He declared that it would ”enable Abia State consolidate its status as the pre-eminent destination for leatherworks in Nigeria.”

    Interestingly, the training programme accommodates non-indigenes, which is a statement about the administration’s inclusive approach to governance. Ikpeazu was quoted as saying:  ”It is important that I highlight the fact that three of the youths travelling are not from Abia State but are resident in Aba and are fully involved in shoemaking. This underscores our commitment to ensure a fair deal for every resident and tax-payer of Abia State irrespective of origin.”

    Ikpeazu deserves commendation for this move to upgrade the trainees’ shoemaking skills and improve their professional capacity. By paying attention to the occupational development of these artisans, the administration has demonstrated the importance of grassroots empowerment. The economy of artisans deserves the attention of government.

    It is noteworthy that the Federal Government launched a Buy-made-in-Nigeria campaign, which is a favourable context for Abia State’s shoemaking project. Ikpeazu noted: “We must take full advantage of the Federal Government Executive Order No.3 which underscores the need to patronise Made-in-Nigeria as a priority.”

    It is worth observing that Ikpeazu had promised to raise the standard of shoemaking in the state as part of his administration’s investment development strategy at a press briefing in Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, last April. This was when he unveiled the $1.5 billion shoe factory deal with the Chinese. The scheduled departure of the first batch of trainees is testimony to his commitment to the project.

    Hopefully, the training will bring about much-needed product standardisation.  The state’s shoemaking industry is usually criticised for alleged poor standards that put its products at a disadvantage against imported shoes, particularly those from western countries. It is high time the local shoemakers raised their game, and this training programme may well be a major step towards achieving the desired standards.

    Beyond the training programme, the government must ensure that the beneficiaries are able to put what they learnt into practice. This means creating an enabling environment that will make them function optimally. In addition, it is expected that the primary beneficiaries will train others locally,  thus spreading the know-how and contributing to the growth of small-scale businesses in the shoemaking sector that will boost the local economy.

    There are various other areas of the national economy where the example of Abia State could be emulated.  By its move in the shoemaking segment, the Ikpeazu administration has further highlighted the need for the different levels of government as well as private-sector players to pay greater attention to grassroots empowerment.

    In the final analysis, the challenge of developing the country’s economy through local production and by reducing dependence on imports requires more of the kind of intervention displayed by Abia State.

     

  • Respite for Abia community as reconstruction of Igwu Bridge begins

    Respite for Abia community as reconstruction of Igwu Bridge begins

    The people of Ndiebe Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State had been in difficult situation since 2014 when Igwu Bridge, the only bridge that links them with other neighbouring communities was alleged to have collapsed.

    The situation, no doubt, affected the people’s socio-economic activities. Any wonder the people were ecstatic when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu inaugurated the construction of the Igwu Bridge.

    Southeast Report learnt that the collapse of the bridge had made the people’s lives horrible as they had to resort to the use of a flabby wooden bridge which they constructed as a temporary palliative measure.

    However, fears are that the wooden bridge may cave-in soon if the state government fails to do something fast to ameliorate the suffering of the community.

    Speaking while inaugurating the construction of the bridge, Governor Ikpeazu assured that the project will be completed in three months’ time.

    He said the poor state of the bridge has remained a challenge to his government, promising that the construction work will be supervised very closely to ensure that work does not stop until it is completed.

    The Governor urged members of the community to co-operate with the contractor handling the project to ensure speedy completion of the project, even as he commended Hon. Nkole for his efforts in ensuring that the construction of the bridge commenced.

    Earlier, the member representing Ohafia Arochukwu Federal Constituency, Hon Uko Nkole told the Governor that the bridge collapsed since 2014 and has adversely affected inter-communal relationship.

    He thanked the Governor for his love for Abam people, assuring him of their support.

    “Today, I inaugurate the reconstruction of Ndiebe Abam Bridge as well as handing over the site to the contractor handling the project.  I was touched by the suffering of the people of Ndiebe. Since 2014, no car has ever entered the village. The collapse of the bridge made it difficult for people of Ndiebe Abam to attend to health emergencies when they occur.

    “During rainy seasons, there is always an increase in the level of water which leads to crippling of socio-economic activities and severance from the rest of the world.

    “Hence it became expedient that I reconnect the village to civilisation. The reconstruction of the 30 meters bridge forms part of my constituency project for last year. The contract is domiciled in the Presidency under the auspices of Border Agency Development Authority awarded to Messrs Gerald Frank Limited.

    “I thank Governor Ikpeazu for making out time to visit the project site with assurance of hope to my people. The project will be completed in record time by God’s grace,” he said.

     

  • Aba traders bemoan high taxation

    Shop owners and wheelbarrow pushers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have appealed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to rescue them from what they described as high taxation.

    Some of the shop owners and wheelbarrow pushers, who spoke with our reporter in different parts of Aba, said that the situation has become worrisome.

    They called for urgent and pro-active measures against over taxation and high rate of touting in the commercial city.

    They also expressed fears that the purported government agents may not have been remitting the monies they “forcefully” collect from the traders.

    Some of the traders and shop owners used the opportunity to commend Governor Ikpeazu for dissolving leaders of various markets in Aba who they accused of siphoning government funds.

    According to shop owners at Umuode in Osisioma Local Government Area Council while reacting on the excess taxation said “Some people from the village came here and said they’re collecting 2000 naira. They said they are task force people and they came with some members of Bakassi Boys.

    “If you said that you don’t have the money that they were demanding, they’ll seize some of your goods even worth more than the money they want. “

    Some of the traders at Allen Market, including a woman that gave her name simply as Comfort, lamented that the high level of taxation which they are subjected to is having serious negative impact on their businesses.

    “They are killing us here with levies. I don’t know the government they are working for; whether it’s Osisioma LGA or the state. Most of the women in this petty market don’t have goods worth up to 15,000 in their shops and someone is forcefully collecting 1000 from them.

    “Just recently they announced that we must pay for fire extinguisher. Tell me, of what use is it to us?  Yes, every sane mind will say it’s necessary, but this government people are using necessity to collect money from the wrong hands. If they go to Ariaria or any other normal markets to demand for fire extinguisher I’m sure they’ll pay for it without wasting time, but definitely not here. This market is a petty market. Where will they keep them, what are they extinguishing and will they even buy it?  We’ve said we’ll not pay, but no one knows the measures they’ll apply to get it from us.

    “Again, they came up with another issue again that they want to build hall. And because of that, all the petty traders must pay 3000 Naira each. This one I’m telling you now is the new problem we are facing. If you put all the levies I’ve said together it’s now N5000.

    “That is what human beings with conscience want petty traders that barely have goods worth N15,000 naira to pay to them in this difficult period.  I’m telling you this because I’ve sold the fear in me.

    “As you noticed, most of the women here are afraid to talk because the faces of those who usually come to collect these levies aren’t what one should wish his enemies to have problems with them.

    “The vigilante came to collect the N1000 for security here, but after several negotiations the line chairman it was later agreed that they should pay N500.”

    A wheelbarrow pusher who gave his name as Uchenna said “We, the wheel barrow and truck pushers were told to pay N1000 each and we started paying since last week with receipt issued to them. Our own is called wheel barrow/Truck License.

    “They collected N1000 from all of us and gave issue us a receipt and something looking like aluminum label to paste in the trucks/wheel barrow. This one is by Osisioma LGA.  And they are using Vigilante boys as task force.”

     

  • Abia community relishes peace

    Abia community relishes peace

    ‘If not for the fact that we have been withholding our youths, we would have had a serious bloodbath on our hands which would have affected our guests. We were on the verge of killing ourselves’

    The people of Umudike community in Umudike community of Abia state have given kudos to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for restoring peace in their community.

    The community and a neighbouring one, Umuelele, were on the verge of shedding blood when  the governor intervened.

    They said that they were obliged to thank the governor for arresting an impending war which, if it was allowed to start, would have led to bloodshed. They said the government allowed reason to prevail, seeing that they are one.

    Speaking with The Nation at Umudike, a leader of the community, Chief Patrick Nwadinobi. said that Umudike community is made up of three brothers, Umuofo, Umuelele and Okwuta and that they are the landlords of both Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and National Roots Crops Research Institute.

    Nwadinobi said that there are numerous visitors living among them especially at the two national institutions, adding that any violence  among them would affect the entire community including their visitors which will not augur well for the image of their community.

    He said that in 2002 that the then government of Orji Uzor Kalu created the Umudike autonomous community with the late Eze Godwin Enyinnaya as their traditional ruler from Umuofo, “Now that he is late the stool rotates to Okwuta as we agreed earlier”.

    The community leader said that when they agreed that the stool should be rotational, “But our brothers from Umuelele who after fighting to produce the traditional ruler and failed decided to fight for their own autonomous community”.

    Nwadinobi said that the disposition of the people of Umuelele led to squabbles that nearly tour the Umudike community apart but for the grace of God, “They Umuelele people have been fighting to take over Amokwe village square which belongs to all of us”.

    He explained that the problem led to a verification group from the state house of assembly after receiving our protest letter, “After their visit they told us to wait for their decision as we were on the verge of killing ourselves”.

    The community leader said that the three kindreds live among each other as there was no definite boundary separating them from each other, stressing that they share everything in common including Catholic and Methodist Churches, markets, stream and schools.

    He recalled that The Nation had earlier in 2013 reported on the problem by the people of Umuelele which led to the entire community missing out from government projects, as government never wanted to site any project in a problem prone area.

    Nwadinobi said that despite the fact that the people of Umuelele were granted their Umudike Ukwu autonomous community, “their name was not gazetted by the state government even when they had already elected their own traditional ruler in the person of Eze Ben Oriaku.

    He noted that the problem created by the people of Umuelele would have led to a full blown war among them, “If not for the fact that we have been withholding our youths, we would have had a serious bloodbath on our hands which would have affected our guests.”

    The Umudike community leader later produced a letter from the state ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs dated 18, 2017 and addressed to the council chairman titled, ‘De-listing of Umudike Ukwu autonomous community, Ikwuano local government area’.

    The letter reads in part, “May I refer to the above subject and inform you that the former Umudike Ukwu autonomous community in Ikwuano local government area has been de-listed as autonomous community”.

    “This action is predicated on the Abia state of Nigeria Traditional Rulers and Autonomous communities (Amendment No.1) law, 2015 which came into force  on the 29th Day of May 2015”.

    “By this letter, Umudike Ukwu autonomous community should as a matter of urgency collapse to its present autonomous community, with immediate effect. You are therefore requested to facilitate the retrieval of staff of office of the former Eze Ben Oriaku while all allowances and entitlements accruable to him should cease from henceforth”.

    The people carried placards with some of them reading, Umudike express gratitude to the governor for making peace among them, We thank the ABHA for their justice after verification, among others.