Verification of Traditional Rulers will restore public trust ....... Barr Emeka Okeke

Verification of Traditional rulers will restore public trust and confidence and prevent breakdown of law and order. The Enugu state commissioner for Chieftaincy matters Barr Emeka Okeke made this known at the verification of Chief  Clement Odugu as the traditional ruler elect of Umuodoru community in Igbo Eze north LGA.                              The commissioner added that due process in demand for autonomous community will check the escalation of crisis in the land

“ What we did here is verification of election that produced Chief Clement Odugu as Igwe elect of Umuodoru community in Igbo Eze north LGA.   The verification shows that the election was hitchfree, without rancour. There were other contestants who stepped down for Chief Clement Odugu and he was elected unopposed.              The community should be commended for harmonising divergent interest of their sons that wanted to be Igwe and this made them to agree to let peace  reign. So they have someone who was elected unopposed. Because the benefits are many, If you have a traditional ruler, you have the chief security officer of the community as provided by the traditional rulers law.                    So traditional rulers are the catalyst for development in a community. They help the government to maintain peace and spread development initiatives to the people. 

“ Yes the demand for autonomous community is also one of the issues we looked into. Because the community is saying that they want their place split into two. Complaint is that the previous creation of autonomous community didn’t take into consideration the basic provision of the law, which says when you create autonomous community the constituities must be geographically contiguent. We discovered that one part of the community is lying at a far flung part of the area. That there is another community splitting the community into two. So this basic provision of the law that the components of a community must be geographically together was not followed by the previous administration. So Gov. Ugwuanyi has promised to resolve the issue”

While speaking The Vice Chairman of Igbo Eze North LGA Hon Luke Uroko explained that electing traditional rulers with one voice will remove divisions in the community.

 “ I witnessed the verification exercise by Enugu state ministry of Chieftaincy matters which was clearly done because the people of Umuodoru community came out enmasse to present their Igwe to the commissioner. And when they were asked whether they like the Igwe, the people didn’t have any opposition. So only one candidate was presented. 

“ Now the situation is that two villages make up the community. One is  Igbele, the other is Ikpiga. And there is another community that is in-between the two villages. So there is no geographical contiguity between the two villages that make up Umuodoru community. If you are travelling between the villages you have to pass through another autonomous community; which is Amachalla. So it is like a stumbling block between the two villages that make up Umuodoru community. So there is need for His excellency to look into the matter because there is need for them to be close to each other or they are divided into two autonomous communities to enable them stand on their own . Peace is better than crisis. Where their is crisis, their is no progress. Electing Igwe with one voice in a free and fair manner has great benefits”.

In his remark the President General of Umuodoru Mr John Ogbaje noted that the election was free of intimidation and victimisation.  He attributed the election outcome to the existing peace and security in the community.

While pointing out the need for creation of autonomous community the Regent of Umuodoru community Prince Emeka Eya explained that peaceful election of traditional ruler will attract development to the community. He added that the two villages suffers during electrification projects and neighbourhood watch policing because of the far distance between them thus he appealed to the state government to split Umuodoru into Igbele and Ikpiga autonomous communities for improved grassroot development.

In his contribution a community leader from Umuodoru Sir Cyprian Okoro said the community believes in unity to achieve a common goal. Understanding prevents suspicion and conflict. Communities in crisis loose government benefits because traditional rulers are the crucial  link between community and government. He added.

While expressing his gratitude the Traditional ruler elect of Umuodoru community Igwe Clement Odugu promised to carry the people along and discharge his duty with fairness, equity and justice.

Responding The Enugu state commissioner for Chieftaincy matters Barr Emeka Okeke advised Igwe elect to understand he is a constitutional monarch, so he should abide and  rule according to the law. He appealed to the people to support their traditional ruler inorder to progress by benefitting from government projects for communities.