Igwe Ben Emeka, traditional ruler of Umueri community in Anambra East
Local Government Area of Anambra state has explained the seeming crisis
between him and its town union President-General which almost tore the
town apart.
“There was no problem between me and the President-General, but a
leadership crisis between President-General (PG) and the town union, the
Monarch said on Monday in Awka.
He, however, said that he and other community leaders had gone far to
resolve the perceived crisis.
“In the next couple of days, the crisis should be over as amicable
resolution of it is in progress.
Explaining the genesis of the crisis, Emeka said “there was an alleged
impeachment of the President-General which I have waded in to resolve
the entire matter.
“I have also notified the state government about the crisis, we are
talking, still talking to bring everybody to round table and possibly
resolve it.
“I want to tell you that it is being resolved, the next couple of days
you will hear that the matter have been resolved. I can assure you of a
peaceful resolution of it based on the meetings we have had so far.
According to him, the contentious issue had to do with a letter from a
quarter of the community, Ikenga Umueri wrote calling on the
President-General to give account of N7.5 million they gave to him.
“There was a meeting which I was not present; in that meeting somebody
moved a motion that the President-General should give account of that
money. From there the PG got angry, and told him that he was not
accountable to any of them.
“That he would not give any account, from there they moved a motion of
removing him that was how the problem started,” he stated.
The Monarch said further that before the PG’s impeachment saga, there
was already an issue on ground that had to do with an Implementation
Committee set up by himself, PG and members of his cabinet.
“This committee is to ensure that every judgment given by the
Igwe-In-Council, Elders-In-Council and some members are being
implemented which some groups who are not at the leadership cadre in the
community was not comfortable with.
“It is important that when judgment on a matter is given, it is
implemented, otherwise there was no need for such, and the community
will not progress,” Emeka said.
According to him, the PG went a general meeting and dissolved that
committee without his consent.
“Now I was not comfortable with that because we held meetings about
five times to set it up, after the PG dissolved it, he didn’t even tell
me that he had dissolved it. It was latter I heard it has been
dissolved.
“That was not even the problem; I told people that this was not the
major cause of the crisis ‘ it was that general meeting which the PG was
presiding, there was a letter from one quarter of the community calling
him to give account of money they gave him which he did not.
Consequently, the PG felt may be because he dissolved the Implementation
Committee that was the reason for his planned impeachment.
“That wasn’t truth, the truth is what I told you now, not because of
the resolution of Implementation Committee, and this is the genesis of
crisis which I told you we are getting over it,” the Monarch added.
He debunked also the rumours making round that some members of community
were killed during the crisis.
“Anybody who told you that should be able tell you the name of family
and soul of persons lost. No single soul died in my community.
“If any person from Umueri told you that he or she lost his or her son,
they should come out boldly to say it, people are just trying to say
damaging or malicious things, which are not truth or provable,” the
Monarch said.
On the plan to remove his from the throne as a result of the crisis,
Emeka said that it had not gotten to that level.
“No iota of truth of this, nobody or groups want to remove me. I am the
Igwe of the entire community.
“It is only the Anambra state government that gave me the certificate
and staff of office that have such powers with genuine and verifiable
reasons,” he said